HC Deb 09 December 1983 vol 50 cc267-8W
Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what he expects to be the net outturn of Government expenditure on housing improvement grants in Wales for the financial years 198–84 and 1984–85;

(2) what was the net Government expenditure on housing improvement grants in Wales year by year and at constant prices from 1979 to date.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

[pursuant to his replies, 8 December 1983]: Local authority capital expenditure on housing improvement grants in the years 1979–80 to 1983–84 is given in the table:

£ million
Cash prices Cost terms*
1979–80 13.7 17.9
1980–81 14.0 15.4
1981–82 17.0 17.0
1982–83 40.6 38.1
1983–84 †90–100 80–90
* Cash figures adjusted for general inflation as measured by the GDP deflator, to a base of average 1981–82 prices.
† Local authority forecasts, made in September 1983 are £90 million. The Welsh Office projections, based on actual expenditure in the period 1 April to 30 September 1983 and on approvals made by the authorities, is£100million.

I have not yet finalised my plans for housing expenditure for 1984–85 and am therefore not yet able to give a forecast of expenditure on housing improvement grants. The final figure will, of course, depend on the priority local authorities give to this expenditure.