§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of home owners currently suffering negative equity. [23745]
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesEstimates of negative equity are prepared by the Department of the Environment on the basis of a house price index. The estimates are sensitive to the assumptions made and are only intended to provide a broad indication of the level of negative equity. An estimated 11,000 homeowners were suffering negative equity during the third quarter of 1995.