§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have studied the Housing Brief jointly published in November 1981 by the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Institute of Housing (and reinforced by the Annual Report for 1981 of the National Home Improvement Council) and whether they will make a Statement, proportionate to the gravity of the contents of the Brief.
§ Lord BellwinMy honourable friend the Minister for Housing and Construction recently met representatives of the two institutes to discuss the Brief. My honourable friend took the opportunity to explain the further measures which the Government have taken in this year's Budget to assist the housing programme in 1982–83, a year in which the gross capital provision for housing in England will be 3 per cent. higher in real terms than in 1981–82. For local authorities alone in England, the additional £83 million announced in the Budget means that provision is now 6 per cent. higher in real terms than in 1981–82. When taking account of likely outturn for 1981–82, local authorities will need to raise their capital expenditure on housing by one-third in order to utilise 1982–83 provision fully.