HC Deb 15 December 1983 vol 50 c544W
Mr. Campbell-Savours

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) why in the financial year 1983–84 the financial allocation to the Housing Corporation in the south east was increased;

(2) why in the financial year 1983–84 the financial allocation to the Housing Corporation in the northern region was cut.

Sir George Young

The Housing Corporation makes the regional distribution of funds allocated to it subject to the agreement of my right hon. Friend. In doing so, it makes use of the generalised needs index, but it takes special account of the particular fields in which housing associations traditionally work and of the concentration of the worst areas of housing need in the inner areas of the conurbations. The use of this index, which is the most objective measure of housing need available, has led to a shift of resources towards the south east.