HC Deb 07 June 1990 vol 173 cc688-9W
Mrs. Mahon

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to what time scale the Government are working in introducing the new means-tested home improvement scheme.

Mr. Chope

The new house renovation grants system will be introduced, under part VIII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, on 1 July 1990. A commencement order, bringing into force the relevant sections of part VIII, will be made shortly.

Mrs. Mahon

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice is being issued to local authorities about the new means-tested home improvement grants.

Mr. Chope

Two departmental circulars will he issued to all local authorities in the next two weeks. These will contain detailed advice on all aspects of the new house renovation grants system, being introduced under part VIII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

Mrs. Mahon

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations were received in response to the consultation process on the revised procedures for means-testing home improvement grants to people with disabilities; and if he will list those for and those against.

Mr. Chope

Ten organisations responded to the consultation exercise on the proposed test of resources for the new disabled facilities grants, being introduced under part VIII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Consultees were invited to submit comments on the content of the test of resources regulations and not the principle of resource-testing such grants which had already been approved by Parliament.

Mr. Paice

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money his Department has awarded in housing renovation grants in each of the last 10 years at (i) current prices and (ii) historic prices.

Mr. Chope

[holding answer 5 June 1990]: The amounts of Exchequer contribution given by the Department to local authorities towards their expenditure on home improvement grants for the financial years 1981–82 to 1988–89 are shown in the table. Information is not available for years prior to 1981–82.

Current prices Historic prices
(£000s) (£000s)
1981–82 225,927 137,522
1982–83 284,345 185,564
1983–84 415,401 283,760
1984–85 517,255 370,871

Current prices Historic prices
(£000s) (£000s)
1985–86 562,222 424,702
1986–87 588,585 459,744
1987–88 605,780 498,557
1988–89 609,533 537,364

Mr. Paice

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money his Department awarded in grants for housing renovation purposes in 1989–90.

Mr. Chope

[holding answer 5 June 1990]: Figures for 1989–90 are not yet available, but the amount of Exchequer contribution given by the Department to local authorities towards their expenditure on home improvement grants for 1988–89 was £537.4 million.