Shared Ownership Mr. Field asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much of the budget of the Housing Corporation is allocated to shared ownership projects; and how much has been so spent in (a) the North-West, (b) Merseyside and (c) the Wirral. Mr. Stanley The Housing Corporation"s approved development programme for England for 1982–83 includes £25 million for expenditure by housing associations on shared ownership schemes, and a further £3 million for leasehold schemes for the elderly. Information on spending on such schemes in the current financial year is not yet available. Mr. Field asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total number and value of bids for Housing Corporation funds in the current year for share ownership schemes (a) in total, (b) in the North-West, (c) in Merseyside and (d) in the Wirral. Mr. Stanley Responsibility for inviting bids from housing associations and for making allocations rests with the Housing Corporation. I understand that for 1982–83 the corporation received the following bids for shared ownership schemes and leasehold schemes for the elderly: ----------------- | | ----------------- | | ----------------- |England | ----------------- |The North-West†| ----------------- |Merseyside‡ | ----------------- Mr. Field asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the funds for his new initiative scheme in Merseyside cover opportunities for shared ownership; what is the number of applications for funds so far for shared ownership projects, the number of housing units covered and the number of applications and housing units so far approved; and if for these data he will distinguish between the Wirral and other parts of Merseyside. Mr. Heseltine The initiatives for Merseyside I announced last year included a proposed scheme to provide additional housing in inner city areas for sale, shared ownership and rent. My officials" discussions on the proposals with the Merseyside district councils, the house-builders and the Housing Corporation are not yet complete. The detailed information sought is not, therefore, available.