§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the levels of rent arrears for each month in 1987 and 1988.
§ Mr. TrippierEnglish local authorities report cumulative rent arrears annually; monthly figures are not available. Estimated total arrears were £226 million at 1 April 1988, compared with £195 million a year earlier, an increase of 16 per cent. Two thirds of this increase is accounted for by the 10 authorities—all Labour controlled —with the highest cumulative rent arrears as a percentage of rent roll.