§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was spent on housing revenue account subsidy in each year from 1979–80 to 1994–95; and what the planned spending is in 1995–96, in(a) Greater London, (b) the metropolitan district areas and (c) elsewhere.
§ Mr. Robert B. Jones[holding answer 21 February 1995]: Provision for the pre-1981 housing subsidy system was:
Year £ million 1979–80 1,128 1980–81 1,869 The amounts of housing subsidy paid in respect of the years 1981–82 to 1989–90 were as follows:
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Year £ million 1981–82 1,216 1982–83 887 1983–84 324 1984–85 357 1985–86 484 1986–87 475 1987–88 451 1988–89 542 1989–90 644 The amounts of housing revenue account subsidy paid in respect of the years 1990–91 to 1994–95 were as follows:
Year £ million 1990–91 3,550 1991–92 3,778 1992–93 3,983 1993–94 4,027 1994–95 4,043 The increase in payments in 1990–91 was largely due to rent rebate costs being met from HRA subsidy instead of by the Department of Social Security. Most subsidy claims in respect of 1993–94 and 1994–95 are still subject to final validation checks.
Total expenditure on housing revenue account subsidy in 1995–96 is expected to be £4,119 million. Local authorities have still to submit their claims for 1995–96 and it is not yet possible to provide a reliable breakdown by area.