HC Deb 05 March 1986 vol 93 cc186-7W
Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of answering the question on local authority rent arrears by the hon. Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Maples) Official Report, column 221, 19 February; and why the hon. Member was not referred to published sources available in the Library.

Mr. John Patten

The cost of answering the question was about £50. The information is collected regularly for the Department's own monitoring purposes. It was not possible to refer to published sources in the Library because that information was not, at the time, up to date.