National Land Fund

HC Deb 20 June 1979 vol 968 c585W

Mr. Faulds

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he treats expenditure from the National Land Fund as public expenditure.

Mr. Biffen

Yes. National Land Fund expenditure has been so treated by successive Governments for many years. We are considering the future of the land fund in the light of the recommendations made in the Third Report from the Expenditure Committee of Session 1977–78 and will take into account the recommendation made on this point.

Mr. Faulds

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis he estimates that there will be a reduction of £1½ million in the demands on the National Land Fund in the current year.

Mr. Biffen

The reduction in the provision made for expenditure out of the National Land Fund in 1979–80 from £5.5 million to £40 million followed a reappraisal of the likely calls on the fund that should be met this year, which took into account sums already committed and cases under consideration.