§ Mr. RammellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of progress on the Housing Capital Receipts Initiative for 1997–98 and 1998–99; and when he will inform local authorities of their allocations will be for 1999–2000. [26732]
§ Mr. RaynsfordWe have notified all authorities that wish to receive resources under the Capital Receipts Initiative of their allocations of Supplementary Credit Approvals for both 1997/98 and 1998/99. £174 million in credit approvals will be issued in 1997/98 and £569 million in 1998/99. These additional resources will be targeted on housing and housing related regeneration schemes. Guidance issued on 2 October, which sets out how the Initiative will be taken forward, has been deposited in the Library of the House of Commons.
A decision about the role and the future funding of our Capital Receipts Initiative will be taken in the context of our Comprehensive Spending Review. The Review process is scheduled to come to a conclusion in the Spring, and the conclusions will be reflected in our future spending plans.
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§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account is taken of the number of blind people living within a local authority area in the setting of its SSA; and if he will make a statement. [27348]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe calculation of most SSA elements takes account of numbers of people, and blind people are included in the figures. The need to spend on specific services for blind people is taken into account in the calculation of the Other Social Services SSA.
§ Sir Paul BeresfordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the 12 English local authorities, in each class, with the highest 1997–98 budget requirement over standard spending assessment in (i) cash and (ii) percentage terms. [28256]
§ Mr. RaynsfordI have today placed in the Library of the House a table showing the information requested.