HC Deb 23 May 1988 vol 134 cc79-80W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the scheme in the London Docklands Development Corporation area to provide 74 homes for homeless families in Newham under a leasing agreement with the East London housing association will be affected by the Local Government (Prescribed Expenditure) (Amendment) Regulations; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Chope

[holding answer 19 May 1988]: Newham borough council has applied to my right hon. Friend for an additional capital allocation to cover prescribed expenditure which it proposes to incur in connection with this scheme.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what he expects to be the average delay between submission and decision of schemes under the Local Government (Prescribed Expenditure) (Amendment) Regulations;

(2) how much additional prescribed expenditure allocation will be available for schemes which will now need to be approved under the new Local Government (Prescribed Expenditure) (Amendment) Regulations;

(3) on what criteria he will be allowing additional capital allocations for schemes which will now have to be approved as a result of the Local Government (Prescribed Expenditure) (Amendment) Regulations.

Mr. Chope

[holding answer 19 May 1988]: The Local Government (Prescribed Expenditure) (Amendment) Regulations 1988 redefine the circumstances in which acquisitions by local authorities of leasehold interests in land result in the incurring of prescribed expenditure. The regulations do not require my right hon. Friend's consent to such acquisitions to be obtained. My right hon. Friend indicated on 25 April at columns 103–4, certain criteria against which applications for additional capital allocations for particular schemes would be considered. No limit has at present been placed on the amount of such allocations as the criteria imply that schemes for which allocations are granted should be broadly neutral in public expenditure terms. The time taken to deal with applications will depend on their number and on the adequacy of the supporting information provided.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Woodlands estate phase I scheme in West Ham, due to provide 56 homes for the homeless of Newham, will be exempt from the Local Government (Prescribed Expenditure) (Amendment) Regulations; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Chope

[holding answer 19 May 1988]: I understand that this scheme does not include the leasehold acquisition of land or buildings. It will not therefore be affected by the regulations referred to in the question. My right hon. Friend is considering an application from Newham borough council for an additional capital expenditure allocation to cover prescribed expenditure which the council proposes to incur in connection with this scheme.