§ 35. Mr. Hicksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfed with progress being made with his Department's home improvement programme at the enhanced rate of 90 per cent. for eligible applicants; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StanleyYes I am satisfied. Improvement grants paid in the first half of the 1982–83 wee the highest since 1975. For the remainder of 1982–83 my right hon. Friend announced on 27 October that local authorities could incur expenditure on home improvement grants without limit.192W For 1983–84 I said that the 90 per cent. rate of grants announced in this year's Budget Statement would be continued beyond the end of this calendar year and would be extended to all grant applications received by 31 March 1984.
In addition my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his statement on 8 November announced that the public expenditure provision for housing in 1983–84 will allow gross capital spending to be at least 10 per cent. higher than the expected level this year.