§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will(a) list and (b) estimate for each of the past three years applications by local authorities in England and Wales for trading credit approvals or other borrowing requirements for the development and maintenance of self-financing trading operations other than airports. [74702]
§ Ms ArmstrongIn the last three years my Department has received a large number of applications for extra credit approvals for a wide range of purposes, including for Trading Credit Approvals (TCAs) for self-financing schemes. Owing to the constraints on my Department's resources, such requests could only be approved in the most exceptional circumstances. Local government in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the effect on the Public Sector borrowing requirement for 1999–2000 of approving all applications by local authorities in England and Wales for trading credit approvals or other borrowing requirements for the development and maintenance of self-financing trading operations other than airports for that period. [74703]
§ Ms ArmstrongLocal authority applications for Trading Credit Approvals (TCAs) can be made at any time of the year and therefore it would not be possible to estimate the amount of requests for TCAs my Department might receive in 1999–2000 or future years. Were an application to be successful the PSBR for 1999–2000 would be expected to increase by the amount of the credit approval issued. Local government in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.