Written question asked by Paul Flynn (Labour) on Monday, 23 October 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 30 October 2000. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Monday, 30 October 2000 on behalf of the Office for National Statistics.

Treasury;Office for National Statistics

Question: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average income and wealth are of (a) an urban dweller and (b) a rural dweller. - Inc text of letter from Len Cook of the Office for National Statistics, and figures.

Answer: Mr. Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average income and wealth are of (a) an urban dweller and (b) a rural dweller. [134497] Miss Melanie Johnson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply. Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 30 October 2000: As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on average income and wealth in urban and rural dwellers. Information on income is available from the 1998-99 Family Expenditure Survey which categorises local authority districts by population density. Estimated average income was £458 a week in metropolitan districts and high and medium density non-metropolitan districts, and £454 a week in low density districts. Low density is defined as under 2.2 persons per hectare. About a quarter of households in the UK are in such districts, which include some small towns and their surrounding areas. Like all estimates from sample surveys, these are subject to sampling variability. The difference between them is well within the range to be expected from chance variation. Information is not available on wealth.

Secondary information