§ Mr. Norman HoggTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide figures showing the current average council rent in Scotland, the amount by which this lies below estimated market rent and the percentage increase in council house rents since 1979.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe average local authority rent in Scotland for 1988–89 is £16.23 per dwelling per week. This is 231 per cent. higher than the equivalent average in 1979. There are no available estimates of average market rents.
§ Mr. Norman HoggTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give figures showing the gross collectable council rent and gross rent arrears for Scotland for the years ending 31 March 1980 to 1988 inclusive.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe information requested is set out in the table.
Gross collectable rent Rent arrears as at 30 September Financial year Rent £ million Year Rent arrears £ million 1979–80 228.4 1979 124.4 1980–81 273.3 1980 14.7 1981–82 356.9 1981 137.0 1982–83 414.7 1982 19.9 1983–84 448.2 1983 416.0 1984–85 469.1 1984 16.7 1985–86 512.0 1985 517.7 1986–87 569.3 1986 22.0 1987–88 629.9 1987 24.4 Notes:
1. Rent arrears information was not provided by 1Glasgow, 2Perth and Kinross, 3Annandale and Eskdale, 4Roxburgh and 5Western Isles for these years.
2. Information on rent arrears at 30 September 1988 is not yet available.