asked the Minister for the Environment the number of house completions in the public sector, actual or estimated for 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985.

Local authorities completed 5,686 dwellings in 1982 and 6,190 dewllings in 1983. Pending the completion of a review currently being undertaken by my Department it is not possible to say how many local authority dwellings will be completed in 1984. Neither am I in a position to say how many dwellings will be completed in 1985.

Would the Minister agree that the need for public sector housing is on the increase, particularly in the urban areas? Will he assure the House that adequate provision is being made in the current year and next year to ensure that the needs for local authority houses will be met?

I am sorry I do not have the actual figures but it appears that this year's figures will be slightly above last year's and the situation will be similar for 1985. That is as far as I can go.

How many local authority houses are being built in 1984?

At the end of the year it should be in excess of 6,400.