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<p>In line with standard practice where funding cannot be spent, within a financial
year, it is returned to the Treasury. This is part of good budget management within
the Department, and in line with established processes. Underspends are not unusual.
For comparison, in 2009-10, the Department underspent by £504 million in total.</p><p>Overall,
funding for housing has been substantially increased, with an additional £15.3 billion
of investment in housing over the next 5 years. This includes an extra £2 billion
for Affordable Housing, taking the programme to £9 billion. In 2017/18, we have also
invested an additional £1.5 billion in our Help to Buy scheme, supporting thousands
of first time buyers to move into their first home. We will be investing over £10
billion in that programme in the next 3 years.</p>
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