§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those topics on which it is not his practice to answer parliamentary questions; and if he will list any changes in the practice of his Department since 3 May.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsIt is not possible to provide a meaningful list of questions which I might decline to answer on grounds other than cost. Each question
£ million at 1979 survey price 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 Current expenditure 106.4 105.0 98.5 103.0 102.8 Capital expenditure 162.7 120.7 113.7 120.6 103.0 Total 269.1 225.7 312.2 223.6 205.8 Full details of the distribution for 1980–81 are not yet available. However, the local authority capital provision will enable councils to maintain their new house-building programme in 1980–81 at the levels achieved in both 1977 and 1978 and estimated for 1979. This will mean about 3,500 completions and 3,300 tender approvals in 1980.