§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much(a) house prices and (b) the cost of dwelling insurance and ground rent, as measured by the retail prices index, have risen since January 1992; and if he will provide separate figures for dwelling insurance and ground rent. [1529]
§ Mrs. LiddellThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Austin Mitchell, dated 3 June 1997:
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on how much (a) house prices and (b) the cost of dwelling insurance and ground rent, as measured by the retail price index, have risen since January 1992; and if separate figures for dwelling insurance and ground rent will be provided.House prices are not published in the retail price index and are obtainable from the Department of the Environment.Between January 1992 and April 1997 the cost of dwelling insurance and ground rent as measured by the retail price index has fallen by 2.5 per cent. Separate information for the specified categories is not published.There are no plans to provide separate figures for dwelling insurance and ground rent.