HC Deb 12 January 1990 vol 164 cc785-6W
Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the capital building programme for the Scottish new towns for the next five years comes from(a) private and (b) public revenue.

Mr. Lang

The Scottish commentary on the Government's expenditure plans for the years 1989–90 to 1991–92 (published in March 1989) indicates at tables 15.5 and 15.6 projected gross capital expenditure on the new town development corporations' housing and other environmental services programmes. Planned expenditure on these programmes for 1990–91 to 1992–93 arising from the recent public expenditure survey will be published shortly in the 1990 Scottish commentary. The Government do not hold projections of private sector capital investment in the new towns. The relative contributions of private and public capital investment in the new towns over the next five years will depend upon decisions made in future public expenditure surveys and the private sector's perception of investment opportunities.