§ 34. Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the Housing Corporation's funds are earmarked for spending in rural areas in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RoeInformation is not readily available on Housing Corporation allocations to rural housing associations other than in the 14 rural stress areas designated by the corporation. For 1987–88 the amount allocated to these associations to cover the cost of new rented and low-cost home ownership schemes approved during the year was some £9 million or 1.5 per cent. of the total for England. Forecast expenditure on these schemes, and other projects approved in the designated rural areas in prior years, is not separately available. The Housing Corporation has been reviewing the definition of, and allocation of funds to, rural areas with a view to implementing new arrangements in time for the allocations to be made within its 1988–89 programme, on which decisions will be made shortly.