HC Deb 14 December 1954 vol 535 cc1551-5
6. Mr. Holt

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce amending legislation to the Housing Act, 1949, to permit local authorities to make grants to householders for improvement works in cases where application for a grant have been rejected solely because, through ignorance of the law, they were not submitted until after the work had been started.

The Minister of Housing and Local Government (Mr. Duncan Sandys)

No, Sir.

Mr. Holt

Would not the Minister agree that, at the present day, when many laws are so complicated and citizens cannot be expected to know them all, it is unfortunate when a citizen in one house gets paid a grant and another in a house in the same street does not, because he did not know the details of the law?

Mr. Sandys

In general, I agree that the principle that ignorance of the law is no excuse is a very bad principle, but in this particular case, I feel—[Interruption.] Have I got it the wrong way round? If so, I meant to say that I feel that ignorance of the law is a jolly good excuse, but in this case it is not really a matter of ignorance of the law. I feel that the provision which this law contains, that prior approval must be obtained before the works for which a grant is to be claimed are started, is a very reasonable safeguard against waste of public money.

Mr. Rankin

Is not the real trouble the ignorance of the law itself?

Mr. Sandys

Everyone is ignorant of the law.

Mr. K. Thompson

In view of the complications that often attend applications of this kind, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he will consider sending a circular to local authorities, asking them to have an officer available at the council offices to give comprehensive replies to the inquiries of those who wish to embark on these schemes?

Mr. Sandys

Let me make it quite clear that I am very much in favour of everybody possible availing themselves of these facilities. If there is anything that I can 'do to bring the facilities more prominently to the notice of all concerned, I shall be glad to consider it.

14. Mr. Crouch

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what grants have been made by him to the borough councils of Shaftesbury, and Blandford, the urban council of Wimborne, the rural district councils of Sturminster-Newton, Shaftesbury and Gillingham, Blandford and Wimborne, and Cranborne under the Housing Act, 1949, for the repair of houses for each of the years ended 31st October, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, and 1954; and what applications for grants have separately been received from these several councils under the 1954 Act.

Mr. Deedes

I assume that both parts of the Question refer to grants for improvements and conversions. As the answer must involve tabulated figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Crouch

I appreciate that many figures are involved, but is my hon. Friend satisfied with the progress made by all the local authorities which are

DWELLINGS IN RESPECT OF WHICH GRANTS UNDER PART II OF THE HOUSING ACT, 1949, HAVE BEEN APPROVED
Local authority Period Work to be done by Total
Local authorities Private persons
Conversion Improvement Conversion Improvement
Blandford Borough Council. Nil — — — — —
Shaftesbury Borough Council. April-October, 1954 — — — 2 2
Wimborne Urban District Council. Year ended 31st
March, 1954 — — — 2 2
April-October, 1954 — — — 3 3
TOTAL — — — 5 5
Blandford Rural District Council. Year ended 31st
March, 1954 — — — 4 4
April-October, 1954 — — 3 43 46
TOTAL — — 3 47 50
Shaftesbury Rural District Council. To 31st March, 1951 — — — 1 1
Year ended:
31st March, 1952 — — — — —
31st March, 1953 — — 1 3 4
31st March, 1954 — — — — —
April-October, 1954 — — — 2 2
TOTAL — — 1 6 7
Sturminster Rural District Council. To 31st March, 1951 — — 2 2 4
Year ended:
31st March, 1952 — — — 2 2
31st March, 1953 — 2 — — 2
31st March, 1954 — — — — —
April-October, 1954 — — — 18 18
TOTAL — 2 2 22 26
Wimborne and Cranborne Rural District Council. Year ended:
31st March, 1953 — — — 3 3
31st March, 1954 — — — 11 11
April-October, 1954 — — — 36 36
TOTAL — — — 50 50

mentioned? How do they compare with other local authorities in the region?

Mr. Deedes

With regard to the second part of that supplementary question, comparisons are not readily available. With regard to the first part, there is always room for improvement.

Following is the answer:

APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS RECEIVED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES, JUNE-OCTOBER, 1954
Local authority Private enterprise Housing Association Monthly receipts of applications
Conversion Improvement Conversion Improvement
Blandford Borough Council. — — — —
Shaftesbury Borough Council. — 3 — — Improvement(Private enterprise)
June: 1
July: 2
Wimborne Urban District Council. — 6 — — Improvement(Private enterprise)
July: 1
September: 4
October: 1
Blandford Rural District Council. 4 59 — — Conversion(Private enterprise) Improvement(Private enterprise)
July: 1 June: 12
September: 3 July: 9
September: 32
October: 6
Shaftesbury Rural District Council. — 15 — — Improvement(Private enterprise)
June: 1
July: 6
August: 4
September: 2
October: 2
Sturminster Rural District Council. — 13 — 2 Improvement(Private enterprise) Improvement(Housing Association)
June: 3 July: 2
August: 7
September: 2
October: 1
Wimborne and Cranborne Rural District Council. — 21 — 8 Improvement(Private enterprise) Improvement(Housing Association)
June: 3 September: 8
July: 3
August: 1
October: 14