Manufacturing trade body the Construction Product Association is lobbying the government to stop proposed changes to the release of housing statistics.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister plans to release housing start figures quarterly rather than monthly from next month. The CPA believes that materials companies need monthly information to estimate supplies accurately.

Allan Wilén, economics director at the CPA, said that the body had written to housing minister Lord Rooker to ask for a meeting.

He said: "Materials companies use the data to adjust stock levels. This has implications for the supply chains. We are hopeful that this move may be reconsidered."

Material groups Lafarge and Marley are understood to have complained to the government.

The last monthly figures will be released next month. The first quarterly statistics are due to come out in July.