HC Deb 20 July 1993 vol 229 c99W
Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received to allow councils to continue spending capital receipts beyond the end of the current year; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Baldry

The local authority associations have asked for the temporary concession on the use of capital receipts, announced in the autumn statement, to be extended beyond 31 December 1993.

Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's latest assessment of the total of capital receipts accruing to local authorities during the current capital receipts holiday; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Baldry

As a result of the temporary relaxation in the capital receipts rules announced in the autumn statement, local authorities are able to spend 100 per cent. of virtually all the capital receipts they receive during the period 13 November 1992 to 31 December 1993. Estimates of local authorities' capital receipts are based on information provided by authorities themselves. My Department has sought provisional outturn information for receipts which local authorities obtained between 13 November 1992 and 31 March 1993, and estimates of the receipts which authorities expect to receive between 1 April and 31 December 1993. This information will be published in due course, once authorities' returns have been received and processed.