§ Mr. Raynsfordasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the average council rent level as a percentage of (a) average earnings and (b) the state retirement pension for a single pensioner and a pensioner couple in each of the years from 1970 to 1986.
§ Mr. TraceyThe estimated figures are as follows:
Average local authority and new town unrebated rents As per cent, of average earnings1 As per cent, of state retirement pension2 Single person Married couple England and Wales 1970 7.6 45.4 28.0 1971 7.5 49.6 30.6 1972 7.5 45.8 28.4 1973 8.2 51.0 31.6 1974 7.9 48.4 30.0 1975 6.8 35.9 22.5 1976 6.6 35.9 22.5 1977 7.0 36.1 22.5 1978 6.6 33.4 20.9 England 1979 6.3 32.9 20.5 1980 6.2 33.0 20.6 1981 8.1 42.1 26.3 1982 8.7 45.6 28.5 1983 8.3 42.7 26.7 1984 8.2 43.2 27.0 1985 8.1 43.5 27.2 1986 7.8 42.8 26.7 1 Average earnings for men aged 21 and over working full-time in all occupations. Source: Department of Employment "New Earnings Survey". 2 Basic state retirement pension based on national insurance contributions. Source: DHSS.