§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of operating rent assessment committees in the most recent annual period for which figures are available: and what were the comparable totals for each of the previous five years.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergNo separate costs for the operation of rent assessment committees are available because the committees are drawn from rent assessment panels which also provide rent tribunals. The cost of rent assessment panels in England for the last financial year and the five preceding financial years are shown below:
£ million (outturn figures) 1978–79 1.7 1977–78 1.7 1976–77 1.8 1975–76 1.9 1974–75 2.1 1973–74 1.3 It should also be noted that in the years 1974–75 and 1973–74 the panels were charged with functions in respect of local authority housing under the Housing Finance Act 1972.
§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many cases were considered by the rent assessment committees in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable totals in each of the previous five years.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergFollowing is the information requested:
Cases referred to rent assessment committees in England October 1978—September 1979 7,787 October 1977—September 1978 9,547 October 1976—September 1977 12,045 October 1975—September 1976 12,089 October 1974—September 1975 9,997 October 1973—September 1974 7,186