§ 72. Mr. Jim MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is making additional funds available for local authorities to enter into lease-back arrangements with the owners of private empty properties.
§ Mr. ChopeMy right hon. Friend's statement of 9 March indicated that he would consider giving additional capital allocations to facilitate projects which were brought within the capital control system by the measures announced in his statement, but which had not primarily been entered into for the purpose of avoiding capital expenditure or borrowing controls. In addition, my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning announced on 24 March that £28 million extra capital allocations would be targeted on local authorities where homelessness pressures are most acute. These allocations will not be confined to schemes for the leasing of property as these are not necessarily the most cost-effective means of providing accommodation.