§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the levels of rent arrears for each month in 1987 and for each month in 1988.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 16 January 1989]Information on local authority, new town development corporation and SSHA rents and rent arrears is collected centrally on an annual basis at 30 September each year. Total rent arrears at 30 September 1987 amounted to £26,658,649. Information on the position at 30 September 1988 is incomplete, but returns submitted to date indicate that total rent arrears will be higher than in 1987. No information is available on rent arrears in the private sector.