§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his policy is on the exclusion of Newcastle upon Tyne, Central constituency from the possibility of receiving improvement grants in 2001–02; what the underspend was on funds for improvement grants in Newcastle upon Tyne in the three preceding years; and if he gave permission for such funds to be reapplied to other purposes. [143876]
§ Mr. MullinIt is for each local authority to decide on the provision of home improvement grants within the broad expenditure guidelines set by my Department, and to target the grants where it sees fit. No specific exclusions have been placed on Newcastle or on any other authority, and any decision not to give grants in the Newcastle upon Tyne, Central constituency will have been taken by the authority itself.
Newcastle city council made use of the full amount of Government support for private sector housing renewal, which is spent mainly on grants for home improvement, in 1998–99 and 1999–2000. Had the council spent less than its allocation during these years, it would not have been able to reapply the funds to other purposes, as there was separate ring-fenced support for the grants. That ring fence no longer exists, and authorities are free to use the resources within their overall housing capital allocation for a range of housing purposes, including on home improvement grants.