To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the percentage of rented housing in the United Kingdom and other OECD countries.

[holding answer as 25 June 1990]: The available information is as follows:—

	Percentage of rented housing	Year
Australia	32	1986
Austria	50	1981
Belgium	39	1981
Canada	38	1986
Denmark	44	1987
Finland	39	1980
France	49	1984
Germany	59	1985
Greece	28	1982
Iceland	not available
Ireland	24	1981
Italy	36	1986
Japan	38	1983
Luxembourg	40	1981
Netherlands	56	1985
New Zealand	29	1980
Portugal	44	1981
Spain	24	1980
Sweden	43	1985
Switzerland	70	1980
Turkey	38	1979
United States	36	1987
Yugoslavia	not available

Corresponding estimates for the United Kingdom are 42 per cent. for 1982 and 35 per cent. for 1988.Figures for the various countries are not all compiled on a comparable basis and should be interpreted with caution.