§ Mr. Pikeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the reduced housing investment programme allocation for housing grants for the year 1984–85; and what response he has given.
§ Sir George YoungMy right hon. Friend has received representations about the level of resources for home improvement grants in 1984–85 from the local authority associations, in the Housing Consultative Council, and from individual local authorities and other interested organisations and individuals.
The responses have made clear that the Government continue to regard home improvement grants at an important part of local authorites' housing programmes, and that particular account was taken of the need for expenditure on grants in determining housing investment programme allocations. There is no reason why the resources made available for next year should not allow authorities, if they wish, to spend at least as much on improvement grants as in 1982–83 — itself the highest figure then on record. It is, however, for local authorities themselves to determine their own priorities for investment, including on home improvement grants, from within the total resources available.