§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the extent to which the level of local authority spending on the management and maintenance of their dwellings differs from the amount provided through the housing subsidy system; and if he will make a statement. [130487]
54W
§ Mr. MullinProvisional outturn figures for 1999–2000 indicate that local authorities have spent £4.0 billion on the management and maintenance of their dwellings. This compares with total allowances of £3.1 billion included within the calculation of the Housing Revenue Account Subsidy. These allowances are just one component of the subsidy calculation, which also takes into account expenditure on debt charges and assumed income from rents. It is for local authorities to decide how best to balance their various sources of income and expenditure so as to meet the needs of their tenants.