§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of new units of social housing that will be built in each of the next four financial years as a result of the capital receipts initiative. [31471]
§ Mr. RaynsfordWhere a local authority wishes to use the resources issued under the Capital Receipts Initiative to provide new social housing, we envisage that they will do so in partnership with registered social landlords. Early estimates indicate that authorities intend to use £98 million of their allocations in 1998/99 for payments of Local Authority Social Housing Grant to registered social landlords. This sum covers both provision of new units and renovation of existing units. Local authorities have recently reported on their proposed programmes and more detailed information will be available shortly.
A decision about the role and the funding of our Capital Receipts Initiative after 1998/99 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.