§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the imposition of 15 per cent. value added tax on home improvements and alterations, he will extend the scope of home improvement grants and home insulation grants.
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§ Sir George YoungIt is for local authorities to consider the costs of works included in home improvement grant applications, subject to eligible expense limits. The effect of my right hon. Friend's proposals for home insulation grants is under consideration.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what factors he attributes the fall in expenditure on home insulation grants between 1981–82 and 1983–84.
§ Sir George YoungExpenditure on home insulation grants during 1982–83, £27 million, was significantly higher than in 1981–82, £22.7 million. It is not yet practicable to assess the outturn for 1983–84 with any accuracy, but the provisional figure for the first nine months, £15.4 million, would suggest that the outturn may be higher than 1981–82.