HC Deb 10 May 1983 vol 42 cc243-4W
Mr. Ray Powell

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been Her Majesty's Government's expenditure on the research programme, to quantify the effect of acid rain, at the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology in each year since 1979.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Expenditure on research on acid deposition for the years in question was:

Year £'000
1979–80 176
1980–81 225
1981–82 222
1982–83 301

Number of Shorthold Tenancies noted on rent registrations
Company Type of Landlord Private Individual Other Total Shortholds Shortholds as percentage of Total Registrations
Greater London
First Registrations 78 216 36 330 0.9
Reregistrations 35 36 2 73 0.1
Total 113 252 38 403 0.4
England and Wales
First Registrations 950 3,761 400 5,111 3.3
Reregistrations 166 356 32 554 0.2
Total 1,116 4,117 432 5,665 1.4

The tables exclude 50 registrations for shortholds where the statistical form did not give the information needed for more detailed analysis.

Information derived from rent registrations understates the number of shortholds for several reasons. The question on the application form was a voluntary one. Shorthold lettings where a fair rent had already been registered could not be identified until the rent was re-registered, which under the regulations then operating might not be for up to three years. Rent registration ceased to be mandatory requirement for shorthold, except in Greater London, from 1 December 1981.

Housing associations to which section 15 of the Rent Act 1977 applies cannot grant shortholds.

Mr. Winnick

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many and what proportion of rent

It is expected that expenditure in the current financial year will be about £400,000.