§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the latest figure for the estimated spending in 1987–88 by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material; and what are the estimated expenditures in each area for 1988–89;
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§ Mr. Waldegrave[holding answer 14 December 1987]: The available estimates of central Government support for housing costs in the United Kingdom for the years 1979–80 to 1986–87 (at 1986–87 prices), including items (i) to (vi), are set out in the table. Revenue transfers between the general rate fund and housing revenue accounts (rate fund contributions) are at the discretion of the local authorities concerned. In England and Wales such transfers are taken into account in the calculation of block grant, which is paid on authorities' revenue spending generally and is not hypothecated individual items of expenditure. In Scotland transfers are similarly taken into account in the determination of housing support grat for each authority. There are no rate fund contributions in Northern Ireland.
There was an increase in real terms of just under 70 per cent. in the total of Government support for housing costs between 1979–80 and 1986–87 (excluding items for which no information is available in the relevant years—see table and notes as follows).
(2) what is the latest figure for the estimated expenditure by his Department on press and public relations for (a) 1987–88 and (b) 1988–89.
§ Mr. Ridley[holding answer 17 December 1987]: The latest estimate of expenditure for paid publicity and the associated staff costs, for my Department, including PSA, for 1987–88 is £4.6 million. Figures giving a breakdown between advertising and promotional material are no longer kept separately. Provision for 1988–89 has not yet been set.