§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any reduction in expenditure by central or local government on discretionary home improvements grants will be arranged, in the light of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement on 15th December.
§ Mr. ShoreNo. Following the reductions in public expenditure announced in July, my hon. Friend referred to the Study Group on Programmes of Social Ownership and Renovation of Council Dwellings the division of the total resources available for the three programmes of municipalisation, local authority improvement works and private 395W sector renovation grants. It was agreed that the amount available for private sector renovation grants should, in real terms, equate to present estimates of expenditure in the current year, and this decision was not affected by my right hon. Friend's statement on 15th December. Within the total of £72 million available—at 1976 survey prices—each local authority will shortly be given an allocation within which it will be required to contain expenditure on renovation grants.