§ Dr. Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the average level (a) of local authority rents and (b) of fair rents registered for unfurnished lettings in England in each of the years from 1979 to 1987, indicating the percentage
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Average weekly rents1 England Retail prices index United Kingdom—April Local authority (unrebated) April Percentage increase Fair rents unfurnished tenancies2 2nd half year Percentage increase £ Over year Since 1979 £ Over year Since 1979 1979 6.41 — — 39.55 — — 1980 7.70 20 20 311.40 22 22 1981 11.42 48 78 13.00 12 36 1982 13.48 18 110 14.25 9 49 1983 13.97 4 118 15.60 4 55 1984 14.66 5 129 16.80 5 63 1985 15.54 6 142 18.05 7 75 1986 16.36 5 155 19.95 3 80 1987 417.22 5 169 5 4 87 1 Service charges, if any, are included in fair rents, but not in local authority rents. 2 Registered rents for private regulated tenancies only.
§ Mr. HowardMy right hon. Friend and I have no plans to do so. But were Ito do so, I would take the opportunity of pointing out to the voters of Calderdale that 31 per cent. of their illustrative community charge (of £259) arises directly from the overspending of the local authorities in their area. I would also urge on them the need to insist now on more economical and efficient local services.