§ Mr. Hefferasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the Liverpool city council regarding the programme of council house building in Liverpool; and what steps he is prepared to take to ensure that more houses for rent are built.
§ Mr. ShoreThe regional office held a meeting with members and officers of the Liverpool city council on Thursday 26th October to discuss the council's housing investment programme. There was a wide-ranging discussion about all aspects of housing in the city including the new build programme. I have given the city council £35.46 million under the 1978–79 housing investment programme. Since 1st January 1978 it has let tenders for 922 council dwellings and estimates that by the end of the financial year payments on the municipal house building programme will total £9 million. At this stage I am unable to say what the allocation under the housing investment programme for 1979–80 will be—this of course will depend on the resources available nationally.