asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many housing authorities will underspend on their housing capital investment programmes in the current financial year; and what is the total sum involved.

Until firm information on actual expenditure for the year is available it will not be possible to say how many authorities have underspent in 1979–80.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total and percentage underspend under the housing investment programme allocations in each financial year between 1975–76 and 1978–79.

The information is as follows. Figures are shown at outturn prices for the year in question.

• 1975–76—£42·3 million (11·9 per cent.)
• 1976–77—£97·7 million (15·7 per cent.)
• 1977–78—£31·8 million overspend (1·5 per cent.)
• 1978–79—£291·4 million (11·7 per cent)

Allocations for 1975–76 were for improvement of local authority dwellings only. Those for 1976–77 included in addition lending to private persons. Allocations for 1977–78 and 1978–79 related to total local authority housing investment. The system of local housing strategies and investment programmes (HIP's) was introduced for the year 1978–79.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received over the housing investment programme.

By 21 March, 25 of the 367 housing authorities in England had written to the Department to say that their HIP allocations for 1980–81 were insufficient.