HC Deb 06 November 1979 vol 973 cc146-7W
Mr. Kaufman

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement setting out in detail the effects on the housing programme of the statement by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 1 November, including public sector house building, home improvement and all other effects; and if he will separately set out these details as they apply to the city of Manchester, including the amount by which Manchester's subsidies from the Government are to be cut over each of the next three financial years.

Mr. Stanley

Under the new arrangements for housing investment programmes, as from 1980–81 there will be a single block capital allocation. Each local authority, including Manchester, will then be free to decide how it distributes its allocation between public sector house building, home inprovement, and so on.

For 1980–81 Manchester's subsidy entitlement will be calculated in accordance with the Housing, Rents and Subsidies Act 1975. For the two subsequent years it will be calculated in accordance with the provisions of the new subsidy system which it is proposed to start in 1981–82 and within the public expenditure provision on housing subsidies which is made for those years.