§ Mr. Alex Carlileasked the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has as to the number of building projects for schools, homes for the elderly, and other public buildings, respectively, proposed to be commenced in the current year, which have been postponed by county councils in Wales as a result of the reduction of the forward indication of capital allocation for 1984–85; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsIn order to assist local authorities in planning their capital programmes, each was given an indication last February of the minimum level of capital allocation it could assume for planning purposes for 1984–85. In aggregate these amounted to 80 per cent. of capital allocations for 1983–84. The individual forward indications for counties took into account known commitments and anticipated starts on major road and social service schemes. One county council has notified me of its decisions to defer starts on four capital schemes previously planned to start in the current year.