I recognise the impact which the abolition of the new house grant will have on individuals planning to buy a new house. However, in current circumstances, it is essential to look carefully at every expenditure programme to see whether the costs are still justified in the light of changes in circumstances during the years. Most commentators recognise that the new house grant has outlived any usefulness it had as an economic incentive. We, as politicians, are very fond of talking about the need to establish clear criteria for spending programmes and the need to introduce better evaluation of those spending programmes. If we are really honest with ourselves, the new house grant is a classic example of a scheme which was introduced for a specific purpose at a particular time and which has since been overtaken by changing circumstances.