Written question asked by Nicholas Winterton (Conservative) on Thursday, 27 January 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 3 February 2000. It was answered by Baroness Hughes of Stretford (Labour) on Thursday, 3 February 2000 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what gross construction output as a proportion of gross domestic product was during 1998-99; and what the average was for European Union member states. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what gross construction output as a proportion of gross domestic product was during 1998-99; and what the average was for European Union member states. [107849] Ms Beverley Hughes: In England in 1996 (the latest year available for England), gross construction output was about 8 per cent. of gross domestic product. Comparable figures for the EU as a whole show that construction made up about 12 per cent. of gross domestic product in that year.

Secondary information