§ 5 Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many improvement grants have been made in Wales during the last three years, respectively; and how many applications from people in Wales have been refused in each of these years.
§ Mr. MarplesOne hundred and twenty-four applications were approved in 1951, 141 in 1952, 265 in 1953, and 68 in 1954. My right hon. Friend has no information about the number of applications which local authorities have rejected.
§ Mr. GowerIs my right hon. Friend satisfied that a substantial number of these applications are being granted? Does he expect that in future local authorities will be more forthcoming?
§ Mr. MarplesI think that two things will happen in the future. The first is that we shall get more information from the local authorities because, beginning with the month of June, local authorities will tell us the number of applications for improvement grants which they have received each month as well as the number which they have approved. In addition, we hope that the circular sent out as recently as 20th April will encourage them to carry out improvements and conversions.