§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the percentage reduction in real terms on public expenditure on housing since 1979.
§ Mr. GowFigures for net public expenditure on housing are given in table 2.6 of the White Paper on the Government's expenditure plans (Cmnd. 9428). But these take no account of the extent to which capital receipts have been available to increase investment. Gross capital expenditure by local authorities, new towns and the Housing Corporation fell by 19 per cent. in real terms between 1979–80 and 1984–85, compared with a reduction of 46 per cent. in the period from 1974–75 to 1978–79.