§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest figure for the average increase in council house rents since February 1974, in cash and percentage terms; and how this compares with the increase in the retail price index and the increase in average earnings.
§ Mr. ArmstrongOn the latest available information, rebated and unrebated rents in England and Wales are estimated to have risen on average by £1.87 or 56 per cent. and £2'06 or 55 per cent. respectively during the period February 1974 to April 1978.
Over the same period the retail price index for the United Kingdom rose by 91 per cent. and the index of average weekly earnings for Great Britain rose by 108 per cent.