§ Mr. Corrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average current cost of a newly constructed local authority three-bedroomed house; what would be the economic rent necessary to meet all debt charges, management costs, &c.; and what is the average unrebated rent charged by local authorities in Scotland for houses of this size.
498W
§ Mr. William RossThe average cost of a new four-apartment local authority dwelling during 1975—excluding the cost of land, site works and fees—is estimated to have been £11,300, and a first-year rent to cover the loan charges and other expenses of such a house would be about £23 a week. The Scottish average unrebated rent for a four-apartment house at 28th November 1974, the latest available date, was £2.90 per week.
§ Mr. Corrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table for each year since 1967 showing average unrebated local authority houses: (a) as a percentage of average earnings and (b) as a percentage of average annual debt, maintenance and management charge.
§ Mr. William RossThe information is as follows:
(a) Average unrebated rent per house as a percentage of average income of head of household in the public sector
Percentage 1967 … 5½ 1968 … * 1969 … 7 1970 … 6½ 1971 … 7½ 1972 … 7½ 1973 … 9 1974 … 8 *not available These figures are estimates based on the Family Expenditure Survey, and are subject to sampling error. Information in respect of 1975 is not yet available.
(b) Average unrebated local authority rent per house as a percentage of average Housing Revenue Account expenditure per house
percentage 1966–67 … 37 1967–68 … 38 1968–69 … 38 1969–70 … 40 1970–71 … 42 1971–72 … 44 1972–73 … 49 1973–74 … 53 Information in respect of 1974–75 is not yet available.