§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT as detailed information as may be readily available giving either on a cash basis or a percentage basis the rise and/or fall in the average cost of rates and rents and the cost of building a three-bedroom council house since 18th June, 1971, compared with June, 1970; and how these figures compare with 18th June, 1969.
§ Mr. AmeryThe following information relates to council houses in England and Wales:
Average rents per week, three-bedroomed houses:— 31st March, 1969 31st March, 1970 31st March, 1971 £ £ (not yet available) 2.05 2.22 Average total construction costs of 5-bedspace houses in tenders approved during:— 2nd quarter, 1969 2nd quarter, 1970 2nd quarter, 1971 £3,089 £3,317 (not yet available) (provisional) Information is not available about the actual rate payments on a 3-bedroom council house; percentage increases in the average domestic rate poundages were from 1969–70 to 1970–71 4.1 per cent. and from 1970–71 to 1971–72 13.7 per cent.