§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon what criteria he based his estimate, as set out in table 12 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1974–75, of an increase from £44 million—provisional outturn—in the borrowing by the Housing Corporation in 1973–74 to £105 million in 1974–75; and whether this estimate assumes the granting of new statutory powers to the Housing Corporation, details of which have not yet been laid before this Parliament.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettExisting statutory powers enable the Housing Corporation to lend to housing associations; the estimate is based on forecasts of the activity of housing associations in the period in question.