§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to give consent to district councils wishing to incur expense in carrying out improvements on housing estates where the quality of life is less than satisfactory.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonHousing capital expenditure consents are determined, within the total resources available, on the basis of authorities' relative needs. In assessing these needs, my right hon. and learned Friend takes particular account of councils' own housing plans and capital programmes, and he would expect these programmes to reflect the most acute problems in each local authority area. It is, however, for authorities themselves to determine the priorities for expenditure within the resources allocated.