§ Mr. Vazasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to provide funds to Leicester city council to repair and, if necessary, repurchase Smith homes in Leicester; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveLeicester city council was notified last December of its housing investment programme allocation for 1987–88; local authorities are normally expected to be able to meet expenditure on housing defects grants or repurchase from within their normal housing programme resources. £14 million extra HIP resources were set aside nationally for authorities facing particularly high HDA obligations in relation to the rest of their capital programmes. We considered Leicester's application carefully but concluded that no further allocation was justified, given stronger competing claims by other authorities.