§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage change in regional house price to earnings ratios in each region between the most recent quarter in 1992 for which information is available and the corresponding quarter of 1991.
§ Mr. NelsonThe latest published information on regional average earnings is for April 1992. The information requested, relating to the second quarter of 1992 and the corresponding quarter of 1991, is in the table:
Average house price to earnings ratio Quarter 2 1991 Quarter 2 1992 Percentage change Region United Kingdom 4.12 3.87 -6.1 North 3.28 3.38 + 3.0 Yorkshire and Humberside 3.92 3.66 -6.6 East Midlands 4.09 3.76 -8.1 East Anglia 4.23 3.79 -10.4 South East Greater London 4.50 4.01 -10.9 Rest of South East 5.02 4.53 -9.8 South West 4.53 4.10 -9.5 West Midlands 4.31 3.95 -8.4 North West 3.74 3.77 + 0.8 England 4.25 3.95 -7.1 Wales 3.49 3.52 + 0.9 Scotland 3.46 3.36 -2.9 Northern Ireland 2.59 2.63 + 1.5