§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will approve additional financial allocations to Bradford council to build homes for rent and to repair and improve council housing stock; and if he will increase improvement grant to improve private property in the district.
§ Mr. YeoLocal authorities' housing investment programme—HIP—allocations for 1992–93 were announced on 16 December. Part of these resources, the housing annual capital guideline—is directed at meeting general needs in the authority, including the repair and improvement of its own stock. Our policy is well established that the building of new social housing is mainly the responsibility of housing associations, with local authorities assuming an enabling role.
Authorities' HIP allocations also contain a guideline figure for resources for private sector renewal. Authorities may claim in excess of this figure, and are entitled to receive appropriate Exchequer contributions on the full sum. In addition, £30 million has been held back for 1992–93 to assist the authorities experiencing heavy demand for expenditure on mandatory grants, and Bradford will have an opportunity to bid for these resources in due course.