§ Mr. SumbergTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much local authorities have received in capital receipts since his announcement in the last autumn statement of a relaxation of the rules which govern their use;
(2) what plans he has to extend the relaxation of the rules governing the use by local authorities of capital receipts beyond 31 December; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BaldryWe have no plans to extend the relaxation in the capital receipts rules. Recent information provided by most local authorities in England indicates that around £1.3 billion of usable receipts were obtained during the period 13 November 1992 to 31 July 1993, of which about £0.7 billion represented additional spending power as a result of the relaxation. This information also suggests that local authorities currently expect to obtain around £2.3 billion of usable receipts during the whole period of the relaxation—13 November 1992 to 31 December 1993 —of which about £1.3 billion represents extra spending power arising from the relaxation.