§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account he proposes to take of the level of expenditure incurred by(a) central Government and (b) Ealing council in respect of the severe flooding in the Greenford and Hanwell area in 1977 and of the number of people who received payments, and of the (i) highest payment, (ii) lowest payment and (iii) the average
242WThe mix of properties for which rents are registered varies from year to year for a number of reasons: for example, extension of decontrol in 1981; the reduction from three to two years in the minimum period for re-registration which led to re-registrations in 1983 of rents previously registered in 1980 and 1981. Therefore, comparisons of averages for consecutive years do not properly reflect rent movements. Better estimates of rent movements are derived from previous and new registered rents for tenancies where there has been no material change in terms or in the physical condition. For properties with rents fixed during 1979, 1982, 1984, 1986 and 1987 the estimated increases in Greater London are:
payment made, in deciding whether to make any financial assistance available following the recent flooding in the same area; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeAll requests for financial assistance are considered on their merits. The treatment of Ealing's request for financial assistance in 1977 would not therefore be relevant to any request in respect of the flooding in 1988. Any representations Ealing borough council may make will, of course, be considered carefully; none has been made so far. I would refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer I gave him on 23 May 1988, at column79.