§ Mr. Patrick NichollsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce the allocation of resources to local authorities under his Department's rural housing programme for 1991–92.
§ Sir George YoungLocal authorities which have been successful in bidding for resources under my Department's rural housing programme for 1991–92 are being informed today.
The response from authorities has been excellent, and the £50 million of supplementary credit approvals are being targeted on those local authorities in rural areas with the greatest need for low-cost rented housing. All the schemes will be undertaken by housing associations, and this programme will complement the Housing Corporation's own programmes for shared ownership and rented housing in rural areas.
The allocations which I am announcing today should result in the creation of 1,422 new housing units in 1991–92, from 187 schemes in 119 local authorities.
A schedule of allocations has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.