§ Mr. Parkasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the non-housing revenue account capital allocations for each local authority district in England for each year from 1979–80 to 1984–85 which incorporates both net and gross allocations.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI have today placed in the Library a list of the total capital allocations, but excluding housing allocations, for each local authority in England, 1981–82 to 1984–85.
Capital allocations other than for housing have only been issued since 1981–82 when the existing system of capital programmes was introduced. For 1984–85 the allocations are those issued to date; further allocations, in particular for urban aid projects, will be made in the course of the year.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on behalf of the Group of Eight regarding local authority capital projects; if he will publish in the Official Report his reply; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GowI met the Group of Eight on 18 July to explain the background to my right hon. Friend's statement that day about local authority capital expenditure, at columns 331–32. No formal representations about the statement were made, but I was asked to ensure that necessary controls on capital expenditure did not hinder the recovery in the construction industry. I said that we would be monitoring capital spending carefully for the rest of the year, and keeping the position under close review.
My right hon. Friend made it clear in his replies on 18 July that the interests of the construction industry had been very much in mind in deciding the form of the action to restrain expenditure.