HC Deb 25 March 1994 vol 240 cc476-7W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his assessment of the impact of the Budget on housing in the Doncaster area.

Sir George Young

Householders in Doncaster, and throughout the country, have benefited from the steady reduction in interest rates over the last few years, from the new opportunities for home ownership that we are creating through rent to mortgage and the expansion of cash incentive schemes which release housing for those in greatest need; and from the prudent approach to public finances and the sound basis for economic growth which my right hon. and learned Friend set in place in his Budget.

As far as housing expenditure is concerned, significant reductions were made at a national level in provision for both local authority and housing association capital expenditure. Doncaster has, however, benefited from our policy of taking account of performance in allocating resources: our assessment that its performance improved from average last year to above average this year has been reflected in its increased share of regional resources, from 4.1 per cent. in 1993–94 to 4.5 per cent. in 1994–95. The authority's basic housing investment programme allocation in 1994–95 is £5.3 million.

In addition, Doncaster has been allocated £1.5 million in 1994–95 to continue work on the Stainforth estate action scheme, which when complete will have attracted £9.1 million in additional resources from the government. Doncaster could benefit from the in-year reallocation of specified capital grant resources for private sector renovation, as it has in previous years. The total Housing Corporation programme, including the tenants incentive scheme and do-it-yourself-shared-ownership will enable 197 units to be provided in 1994–95. The actual effect of housing allocations will depend on local decisions and priorities.

I hope to see Doncaster and all local authorities making maximum use of the opportunities for drawing private finance into housing, developing partnerships with the local private rented sector, and involving all those with a contribution to make in their efforts to tackle local housing need.