§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in theOfficial 343W Report his estimate of the amount paid out in 1987–88 in (a) subsidies to local authorities and new town housing and (b) cost of housing benefit to, respectively, tenants of local authorities and private landlords, including rate rebates; and if he will add a forecast for the current and for the next financial year together with an estimate of the increase in a full year as a result of the abolition of rent control.
§ Mr. TrippierPayments of housing subsidy to local authorities in 1987–88 amounted to £473,511,743 and to new towns £82,839,556. Questions on income support, including housing benefit, are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security.