asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the hardship caused by his decision to abolish the £3,000 mortgage subsidy; and if he will reinstate the subsidy.

I am not so aware. The decision that the £3,000 mortgage subsidy should be replaced by a grant of £2,250 available for all new houses was designed to provide a boost to the house building sector and to employment in the industry. The grant accrues to the benefit of purchasers of new houses. I am satisfied that the new grant is a more effective instrument of housing policy than the mortgage subsidy and I do not, accordingly, propose any change in the arrangements made.