HC Deb 06 March 1980 vol 980 cc329-30W
Mr. Beith

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what effect his recently announced cuts in the public housing programme will have on the viability of architectural practices in the Northern region.

Mr. Stanley

The viability of architectural practices depends on the availability of work of all kinds.

Mr. Alton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has calculated what additional unemployment the reduction in the housing investment programme will cause in the construction industry and the amount of additional unemployment benefit which will be payable to workers in those industries.

Mr. Stanley

This will depend on the level of activity of the whole house building and house renovation industry.

Mr. Kaufman

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the relationship between the figures given in the written answer of the Minister for Housing and Construction on 26 February that the total 1980 housing investment programme allocations to English local authorities are £1,905 at 1979–80 outturn prices, which implies a conversion factor between 1979–80 and 1980–81 outturn prices of 15.4 per cent., and the statement in the Secretary of State's letter to local authorities of 21 February that regional allocations for 1980–81 are 25 to 30 per cent. less in real terms than those announced in August 1979 for 1979–80, which implies a conversion factor between 1979–80 and 1980–81 outturn prices of 24.5 per cent.

Mr. Stanley

The comparison between the housing investment programme allocations for 1979–80 and 1980–81 set out in paragraph 29 of the letter to local authorities of 21 February was undertaken at 1979 survey prices. The arithmetical difference which the right hon. Member has calculated appears to have arisen because the factor used to lift both the provisional allocations—made in November 1978—and the revised allocations—made in August 1979—for 1979–80 from November 1978 prices to 1979–80 outturn prices was 1.082, whereas the right hon. Member appears to have applied a factor of 1.19, the present best estimate given in the answer to the hon. Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw) on 20 February.—[Vol. 979, c. 252.]