§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what percentage rents to consumers have increased since January 1987, measured by the retail prices index; and if he will publish a table(a) giving separate figures for the increase in public and private rents and their corresponding weights in the index in 1978, 1979, 1987 and to date and (b) showing the effect of rent increases on the real disposable incomes of council tenants not in receipt of housing subsidies or national assistance.
§ Mr. NelsonBetween January 1987 and March 1993, the latest date for which information is available, the "rents" section of the retail prices index rose by 70.9 per cent. Information on public and private sector rents is not available in the form requested.
In 1987, local authority tenants not in receipt of rent rebates, supplementary benefit, rates rebate and housing benefit supplement, had an average disposable income of £180 per week. In 1991, local authority tenants not in receipt of rent rebates, income support and rates rebate, had an average disposable income of £218 per week. The information was obtained from the 1987 and 1991 family expenditure surveys. Information on rent excluding rates is not available from the 1987 family expenditure survey.