§ Mr. MacGregorasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to introduce charges for work in connection with building regulations, as anticipated in last year's settlement of rate support grants for the current year 1977–78.
§ Mr. ArmstrongI refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Goole (Dr. Marshall) on 9th November 1977.—[Vol. 938, c.121–2.]
§ Mr. Paul Deanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much of the additional allocation to construction which he announced on 26th October is expected to go to the South-West of England; and how many extra jobs will be created.
§ Mr. ShoreI have announced the allocation of the extra £400 million between departmental programmes, but it is not possible to say how much will be spent in the South-West. The effect naturally will be to increase employment by some 30,000.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the projects approved for the construction industry from the £100 million made available for inner cities in the Budget 75W statement of 29th March, giving details of when work is expected to commence.
§ Mr. ShoreProjects approved to date in construction packages put forward by the responsible authorities from the £83 million available in England out of the United Kingdom total of £100 million number more than 330. It would take up a disproportionate amount of space to detail them all in theOfficial Report, but if my hon. Friend will let me know of any particular cases or area he has in mind I will gladly write to him about them. Following approval, work is expected to commence on individual projects as soon as the necessary practical arrangements can be made.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list projects approved for the construction industry from the £100 million made available in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement on 15th July, giving details of when work is expected to commence.
§ Mr. ShoreThe further £100 million to assist the construction industry in the current financial year announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 15th July was allocated to departmental programmes as follows:
£m Education 10.9 Health and Personal Social Services 12.0 Transport 3.5 Housing 48.85 Other Environmental Services 9.75 Services within the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Scotland 10.0 Services within the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Wales 5.0 A substantial part of this proposed expenditure was in turn allocated by Departments to local authorities; allocations were also made to new towns, development corporations and to the Housing Corporation. In making these allocations particular emphasis was given to bringing forward projects which could be commenced quickly so as to be of immediate assistance to the construction industry. A complete list of projects is not readily available.