§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with leaders of the Liverpool city council.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinI had another constructive discussion with members of the city council on Tuesday 19 June on the basis of the very full paper prepared jointly by officials. The council showed a clear willingness to examine ways of making a properly balanced budget and rate. The deputation put a number of points to me about230W Liverpool's financial position this year, while I emphasised the very real constraints facing the Government. The council indicated that its decisions on this year's rate and budget could be influenced by what the Government were able to do in relation to the city's resources in 1985–86. I undertook to write to the city council on this issue before its council meeting on 11 July.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what plans he has to assist the Liverpool city council in tackling the housing problems which it faces;
(2) further to his reply of 11 June, Official Report, column 338, to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside, if he will consider making further funds available to the Liverpool city council to help alleviate the housing conditions in the inner city areas.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinSubstantial resources have been made available to Liverpool city council for its housing investment programme. In addition, urban programme resources have been allocated through the inner city partnership to alleviate inner city problems.
All resources available for the housing investment programe this year have been allocated. There is no central reserve of housing resources. It may be possible to make available a limited amount of additional urban programme resources this year.
Beyond this year, I shall want to discuss with the city council how best to tackle the problems it faces.
The city council must seek to use to the full all available resources, including private sector investment and the resourcefulness of the local community. It is vital to use the most cost-effective means of alleviating what are, undoubtedly severe housing problems. But first it must make a lawful rate.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the estimated amount of grants to be given to the Liverpool city council under the housing investment programme for the years 1985–86 and 1986–87;
(2) what is the amount of grant given to Liverpool city council for its housing investment programme in the current financial year;
(3) what is the amount of grant given to the Liverpool city council under the housing investment programme in each of the past five years to date.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinHousing investment programme allocations cover capital expenditure on housing, whether it is financed by borrowing, Exchequer subsidy or any other means. Liverpool's HIP allocation and the amounts of subsidy received in each of the past five years are as follows:
HIP allocation Housing subsidy £ million £ million 1979–80 42.4 16.9 1980–81 47.2 18.7 1981–82 39.8 12.4 1982–83 49.3 4.4 1983–84 40.0 7.4 Notes:
(i) Authorities have since 1 April 1981 been free to increase their HIP allocations on account of the prescribed proportion of their capital receipts.
(ii) An additional HIP allocation may be made retrospectively for 1983–84 for expenditure on improvement grants in the light of 231W certain information.
(iii) The subsidy system has changed during this period, so comparisons between years are of limited value.
For 1984–85, Liverpool's HIP allocation was £38.5 million; it has claimed housing subsidy amounting to £6 million. No estimates of HIP allocations and subsidy entitlements have been made for 1985–86 or 1986–87.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any further plans to visit to Liverpool to see the housing conditions and problems in the city.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinIn response to an invitation given by the hon. Member and others earlier in the year, my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction will visit Liverpool on 28 June. I shall continue my regular series of visits to the area, which give me the opportunity to see problems and opportunities for constructive action throughout Merseyside. I hope this will include further visits to Liverpool's housing estates.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment following his recent official visit to Liverpool, if he will have discussions with the chairman of the Housing Corporation to see whether extra finance may be made available to cope with the housing problems in Liverpool.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinThe detailed breakdown of the Housing Corporation's approved development programme for 1984–85 will be announced shortly. As in 1983–84, the programme will include an identified allocation which, at my request, will be used to continue with a special programme of projects on Merseyside. This will be additional to the regional allocation to be made by the Housing Corporation to the Merseyside region.
§ Mr. Wareingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to restore the cuts made in Liverpool's housing investment programme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinNational housing investment programme resources for 1984–85 have been allocated in full to housing authorities. Liverpool is maintaining a substantial housing capital expenditure programme.
Decisions on the level of resources to be made available for capital expenditure on housing in 1985–86 have yet to be taken.