§ Mr. HealeyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on plans for investment in(a) social housing and (b) council housing. [148474]
Mr. Robert AinsworthThe spending plans for 2001–02 to 2003–04 announced following last year's spending review provide for significant increases in housing investment by both local authorities and registered social landlords. These increases, which build on the substantial additional resources already made available through the capital receipts initiative and the 1998 spending review, reflect our commitment to bring all social housing in England up to a decent standard by 2010 and to provide additional social housing in areas where there is a need for it. Allocations for housing capital expenditure by local authorities have been increased from £750 million in 1997–98 to £2.6 bill ion in 2003–04, while allocations for investment in new housing by registered social landlords will increase from £0.7 billion to £1.2 billion over the same period.