HC Deb 10 December 1992 vol 215 cc740-1W
Mr. Bell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received regarding increasing the stock of rented accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Baldry

I have received a number of representations from the National Federation of Housing Associations and others about the need to maintain output from the Housing Corporation's programme.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his autumn statement plans to allocate around £6 billion to the Housing Corporation over three years from 1992–93. Over these years, housing associations will be able to provide considerably more than the 153,000 new social homes forecast in our election manifesto. Over the four years to 1995–96, the Government plan to provide £7.5 billion in support of the corporation's capital expenditure. In addition, we hope that associations will be able to attract a further £3 billion from the private sector.

Mr. Bell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new housing association properties have been made available in(a) England and (b) Wales in each year since 1974.

Mr. Baldry

New housing for rent made available by housing associations in England and Wales since 1974–75, with subsidy from the Housing Corporation and Tai Cymru—from 1989–90—has been as follows:

England Wales
1974–75 242 4
1975–76 4,288 105
1976–77 10,260 355
1977–78 20,521 644
1978–79 23,782 1,057
1979–80 20,693 1,534
1980–81 25,956 1,173
1981–82 20,014 2,328
1982–83 21,637 2,115
1983–84 20,658 1,535
1984–85 25,335 1,487
1985–86 21,329 1,520
1986–87 19,981 1,424
1987–88 18,183 1,767
1988–89 13,925 1,662
1989–90 17,728 2,442
1990–91 19,843 3,060
1991–92 25,815 3,548

These figures include housing made newly available for rent when tenants take advantage of grants to help them to move into owner occupation.

Mr. Bell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many families were housed in temporary bed-and-breakfast accommodation by local authorities in (a) England and (b) Wales in each year since 1985; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Baldry

Estimates of the average number of households who were being dealt with under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985 and were temporarily placed in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in England are as follows:

Averages for years ending September Households in bed and breakfast
1985 4,250
1986 6,350
1987 9,970
1988 11,240
1989 11,550
1990 11,960
1991 12,470
1992 11,880

For information about Wales I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Mr. Bell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was spent by local authorities in(a) England and (b) Wales in each year since 1985 on the provision of temporary bed-and-breakfast family accommodation.

Mr. Baldry

The net cost to local authorities since 1985 of providing bed-and-breakfast accommodation in England was as follows:

Net expenditure (£ million)
1985–86 33.9
1986–87 75.5
1987–88 104.5
1988–89 90.2
1989–90 72.6
1990–91 66.3

For information about Welsh authorities I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.