HC Deb 27 January 2003 vol 398 cc621-3W
Andrew George

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many households were classified as homeless

Average registered social landlords weekly rents in rural areas only—as at 31 March each year
£
Region 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
North East 40.30 42.81 44.63 44.79 45.88 47.60
North West 38.50 42.07 43.79 45.71 45.13 47.84
Yorks and Humber 41.45 44.04 46.55 48.38 49.77 51.25
East Midlands 46.93 49.27 46.27 45.84 46.86 48.15
West Midlands 42.24 43.94 45.90 48.79 47.19 49.11
Eastern 44.34 46.61 49.80 51.58 52.99 55.24
London n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
South East 51.14 55.14 58.48 60.78 61.40 63.77
South West 48.92 51.75 52.01 53.02 53.73 55.99
All England (urban and rural) 46.81 49.82 51.92 53.11 53.90 55.81

Source:

Housing Corporation, annual Regulatory and Statistical Return.

Average local authority weekly rents in rural areas only—as at end-April each year
£
Region 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
North East 35.24 36.45 37.40 38.59 39.59 41.02 42.41
North West 35.24 36.62 37.34 38.25 40.12 42.97 45.37
Yorks and Humber 34.66 35.60 36.64 38.26 40.35 42.26 44.06
East Midlands 34.76 36.61 38.00 39.10 41.22 42.47 41.34
West Midlands 34.48 34.88 36.44 38.16 39.70 42.55 43.60
Eastern 40.40 41.50 42.57 43.30 45.48 47.83 48.70
London n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

and in priority need of housing in (a) England and (b) local authorities defined as rural, by region, in each year since 1978; [90828]

(2) how many people were on the waiting list for social housing in (a) England and (b) local authorities defined as rural, by region, in each year since 1978. [90829]

Mr. McNulty

A table presenting available information reported by local authorities in England since 1985–86 in respect of homeless households in priority need accepted annually, and total households on their housing register at 1 April deemed to be "in need", has been placed in the Library of House. Figures are presented for each region, distinguishing activity in authorities categorised as either "mixed rural" or "deep rural".

Local authorities have different practices for compiling and managing their housing register which mean that comparisons between authorities can be misleading. Authorities' policies and practices may change, which can also affect comparisons over time.

Andrew George

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average(a) public sector and (b) private sector rent was for housing in (i) England and (ii) local authorities defined as rural, by region, in each year since 1978. [90837]

Mr. McNulty

In all three tables "rural areas" refers to those local authorities classified by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister as "mixed rural" or "deeply rural".

The figures shown do not go back to 1978, as requested. This is because the current definitions of urban/rural apply to current local authority boundaries only. Rental figures prior to 1996 would require us to refer to earlier local authority boundaries and could be determined only at disproportionate cost.

Average local authority weekly rents in rural areas only—as at end-April each year
£
Region 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
South East 46.47 47.55 48.97 52.18 52.65 53.79 56.43
South West 42.49 42.79 44.00 44.86 45.92 47.57 49.17
All England(urban and rural) 40.10 41.18 42.24 43.82 45.61 47.87 49.42

Sources:

1. 1996–2000: Housing Subsidies and Grants Advance Claim Forms submitted by local authorities.

2. 2001–02: Survey of Local Authority planned rent changes, conducted annually by the ODPM.

Average private sector weekly rents in rural areas, April 2000 to March 2002
£
Region 2000–02
North East 74
North West 77
Yorks and Humber 81
East Midlands 77
West Midlands 86
Eastern 85
London n/a
South East 108
South West 80
All England (urban and rural) 107

Notes on the table of private sector rents:

1. Private rent figures are based on assured and assured shorthold tenancies only

2. The rents shown are before deduction of housing benefit, if any

3. Average rents are shown for a two-year period because sample size considerations prevent data being shown for individual years.

4. Analysis of data prior to 2000–02 would incur disproportionate costs

Source:

Survey of English Housing.