§ Mr. Michael Spicerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average private sector rent paid in each region of England; and what is the average amount paid in domestic rates per household in each region of England.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe following estimates are based on the combined results of the family expenditure survey for 1978 and 1979. They are based on small samples and therefore subject to large sampling errors.
Average weekly Rents and Rates paid by Private Sector (Unfurnished*) Tenants by Regions (†) in England: 1978 and 1979 £ £ Average rent (‡) Average Rate (‡), § Greater London 6.50 2.57 East Anglia and South-East (excluding London) 5.65 2.02 North, North-West, Yorkshire and Humberside 3.56 1.38 East and West Midlands 5.27 1.65 England 5.12 1.85 * Reliable information for tenants of furnished accomodation is not available. †The averages quoted refer to regrouped regions so as to reduce sampling error. Reliable information is not available for the South-West region. ‡Rents and rates are net of rebates except for tenants on supplementary benefit whose rents and rates are included unrebated as these are taken into account in full when calculating entitlement to supplementary benefit. §Excluding water and sewerage charges.