§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the real-terms increase or decrease in his Department's spending on each sector of housing since 1979, setting aside borrowing consents and income gained from sale of housing stock.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 11 July 1994]: Expenditure by the Scottish Office Environment Department and the Scottish Office Industry Department, for housing in the new towns, on housing subsidies to local authorities and new towns, which accounted for around one third of the net housing programme in 1979–80, decreased in real terms by 93 per cent. and 70.3 per cent. respectively between 1979–80 and 1993–94 consistent with our policy of ending indiscriminate subsidies and concentrating resources on tenants in greatest need through housing benefit. The Scottish Special Housing Association and Housing Corporation in Scotland were subsumed by Scottish Homes in 1989 which is funded on a different basis; no comparison with 1979–80 can therefore be made.