§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the percentage of those with mortgages who are self-employed, employed on fixed-term contracts or who are employed on a part-time basis.
§ Mr. Nelson[holding answer 8 December 1994]: Estimates from the spring 1994 labour force survey for Great Britain show that of all heads of households who were owner-occupiers with mortgages, 15 per cent. were self-employed; 2 per cent. were employed on fixed-term contracts; and 4 per cent. were working part time either as an employee or self-employed. These three groups make up 19 per cent. of all mortgage holders.
§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new mortgages have been taken out in each of the last five years(a) in total and (b) by geographic region.
§ Mr. Nelson[holding answer 8 December 1994]: Data for the total number of mortgages advanced are available in table 10.4 of "Housing and Construction Statistics 1983–1993" published by the Department of the Environment. These data are not published on a regional basis. However, the first column in table 10.9 of the same publication gives the percentage breakdown of new mortgages by region only for advances made by building societies.