HC Deb 14 November 1973 vol 864 c157W
Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will obtain from international sources and publish the average cost of a house in terms of annual earnings and the average rent of a house in terms of weekly earnings in (a) the United States of America, (b) East Germany, (c) West Germany, (d) Australia and (e) Denmark, as compared with England and Wales.

Mr. Channon

Figures in the form sought by the hon. Member are not available.

The estimates below have been derived from figures in publications of the Government Statistical Service, the United Nations and OECD; the figures for East Germany are not available.

While the basic data are compiled by the various countries on similar lines, there are differences in coverage which make the results only broadly comparable.

Ratio of average construction cost of dwelling* to average annual earnings (all employees) Housing rentas percentage of consumers' expenditure
1970 1970
United Kingdom 2.7 10.9
Australia 2.3 15.8‡
Denmark 3.1 9.2
West Germany 4.3 11.1
U.S.A. 2.3 14.3
(1969)
* Fixed capital formation in dwellings (excluding land) including some additions and alterations to existing dwellings, divided by completions of new dwellings.
† Including imputed rent for owner-occupied housing.
‡ Including fuel and power.