§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money the Government have advanced to the local authorities in the county of Cheshire, specifying the amounts to each authority, for the purchase of houses since 1970; and what is the current estimate of funds available.
§ Mr. ArmstrongLocal authorities in Cheshire reported advancing the following amounts:
Advances to private persons for house purchase (excluding purchase of council dwellings) £ thousand 1970–71 1,809 1971–72 2,859 1972–73 3,478 1973–74 5,548 *1974–75 5,965 April to August 1975 3,451 * The county boundary changed under local government reorganisation, 1st April 1974. Figures for the individual authorities cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost.
Money for these loans is raised by local authorities borrowing from various sources but most authorities in Cheshire will have already used up their quota for 1975–76. However, they are aware of the funds available under the building societies' £100 million scheme.