asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline in detail for each year since 1977 inclusive the total amount of money paid out annually in (a) new house grants, (b) home improvement grants and (c) mortgage subsidies; the number of new houses built each year since 1977; the number of existing houses improved since 1977; the number of all types of housing grant applications refused since 1977; the value of all new houses and improved houses built or improved since 1977; the estimated value to our economy annually of the housing construction industry since 1977; and if he will make a statement on housing grants and on the housing construction industry.
Written Answers. - Housing Expenditure.
348.
The information requested, in so far as it is available, is set out in the following tables:
Expenditure on new house grants, mortgage subsidy and house improvement grants schemes each year since 1977.
|
Year |
New House Grants |
Mortgage Subsidy |
House Improvement Grants |
|
not |
not |
||
|
1977 |
available |
— |
available |
|
1978 |
£8.4m |
— |
£6.1m |
|
1979 |
£8.8m |
— |
£15.9m |
|
1980 |
£8.55m |
— |
£18.55m |
|
1981 |
£10.26m |
£0.96m |
£19.45m |
|
1982 |
£10.49m |
£6.28m |
£4.37m |
|
1983 |
£11.95m |
£14.60m |
£6.4m |
Number of new houses built each year since 1977.
|
Year |
Number |
|
1977 |
24,548 |
|
1978 |
25,444 |
|
1979 |
26,544 |
|
1980 |
27,785 |
|
1981 |
28,917 |
|
1982 |
26,798 |
|
1983 |
26,138 |
Value of housing output and of the house construction industry to the economy each year since 1977.
|
Year |
£ million |
|
1977 |
340.41 |
|
1978 |
448.89 |
|
1979 |
631.33 |
|
1980 |
641.65 |
|
1981 |
772.1 |
|
1982 |
769.36 |
|
1983 |
868.69 |
With regard to the last part of the Deputy's question, there are indications that the worst of the recession, particularly as it affected the building industry, has passed and conditions will soon be favourable for a return to orderly and sustained growth. In this connection. I would refer the Deputy to the National Plan Building on Reality published recently which projects an increase in the volume of output of almost 7.0 per cent in the period 1985 to 1987.
Note (i), the total expenditure on new house and improvement grants in 1977 was £4.52 million. A breakdown of this figure as between the two types of grants is not available.
Note (ii), details are not available of the number of houses improved and the number of housing grant applications refused since 1977.