§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the percentage reduction on net public expenditure on housing planned for 1985–86 compared to 1978–79 and 1979–80, respectively.
§ Sir George YoungPlanned net expenditure on housing for 1985–86 is £2,290 million, a reduction of 36 per cent. since 1978–79 and 49 per cent. since 1979–80. This comparison does not, however, take into account the very large expenditure by the Department of Health and Social Security on housing benefit or the substantial volume of capital receipts on which local authorities have been able to draw since 1981 in order to increase their spending power.