§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many councils will have to reduce their capital spending as a result of the new rent capping proposals. [10507]
§ Mr. ClappisonIf local authorities budget sensibly, they should be able to maintain their existing revenue contributions to housing revenue account capital expenditure.
§ Mr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the amount of credit approvals to fund local authority capital spending on housing in each of the last five years; what is his forecast for 1996–97 and 1997–98; and if he will express each statistic in(a) real terms and (b) as a percentage change on the previous year. [10500]
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§ Mr. ClappisonThe figures are provided in the table.
Year Local authority credit approvals (cash £ million) Local authority credit approvals at 1994–95 prices (£ million) Percentage change on the previous year (in cash terms) 1991–92 (outturn) 1,441 1,572 — 1992–93 (outturn) 1,194 1,252 -17 1993–94 (outturn) 1,120 1,141 -6 1994–95 (outturn) 872 872 -22 1995–96 (est outturn) 869 846 0 1996–97 (plans) 789 747 -9 1997–98 (plans) 752 695 -5 These figures exclude credit approvals for the estate action scheme, which has been subsumed into the single regeneration budged; the scheme has been grant-funded since 1995–96. The supplementary credit approvals issued to provide cover for specified capital grants are also excluded.
§ Mr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much revenue local authorities will lose in 1996–97 following the introduction of the new housing revenue account subsidy system. [10503]
§ Mr. ClappisonLocal authorities which budget within the Government's guideline rent increases will be unaffected by the new arrangements to limit rent rebate subsidy.