§ Mr. Durantasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give guidance to housing authorities about the minimum level of housing investment programme allocations they can expect to receive in 1984–85.
§ Mr. StanleyLocal authorities in England—other than the GLC—are being informed today that the Government's public expenditure plans for 1984–85 are such that authorities can plan their forward housing programme on the basis that their HIP allocations in 1984–85 will be at least 80 per cent. of the amounts already notified for 1983–84, if authorities can justify that level of expenditure. This is on the assumptions that average rents rise in line with prices in 1984–85 and that total housing capital receipts would be £1,300 million. No decisions on rents have, of course, yet been taken. I am sure that both local authorities and the construction industry will welcome the fact that the Government have now provided a firmer basis on which housing capital expenditure can be planned forward through to April 1985.