§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if the rent increase of 83p a week proposed by the Liverpool City Council is in accordance with Government anti-inflation policy;
(2) what has been the average increase in council rents in the Liverpool, Scotland Exchange constituency last year, including the proposed new rent increase; and what is the percentage increase.
§ Mr. ArmstrongThe combined effect of the increases made last August and proposed for this September is to produce an average increase in rent for the current financial year of 83p. I do not consider this to be so far above the Government guideline of 60p—which, it must be stressed, is a national average figure—as to be incompatible with the counter-inflation policy.
Separate figures for parliamentary constituencies are not available.