HC Deb 28 July 1998 vol 317 cc115-6W
Mr. Peter Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of Housing Corporation allocations in the current financial year for rural areas are targeted on settlements of less than 1,000. [53176]

Mr. Raynsford

A target is not set for Housing Corporation allocations in rural settlements of less than 1,000. However around 46 per cent. of the allocations for the rural programme in 1998–99 are in rural settlements of less than 1,000.

Mr. Peter Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what target has been set for approvals by the Housing Corporation in its Rural Programme for the current financial year. [53175]

Mr. Raynsford

For 1998–99 we have asked the Housing Corporation to aim for around 3.4 per cent of the new social lettings approved under the Approved Development Programme to be in small rural villages with a population of 3,000 or less.

In addition, local authorities can use the extra resources we have made available to them, under the Capital Receipts Initiative this year, to invest in the provision of new social housing in rural areas in partnership with Registered Social Landlords where such developments are seen as a high priority in their housing strategies.