HC Deb 31 January 1961 vol 633 cc763-4
2. Mr. Eden

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what progress is being made in meeting the urgent need of elderly people for reasonably-priced accommodation of a convenient size.

Mr. Brooke

Last year local authorities in England and Wales completed over 27,000 one-bedroom dwellings suitable for elderly people. This represents 26 per cent. of their total building, compared with 22 per cent. in 1959 and 7 per cent. in 1951. These figures include a growing proportion of flatlets specially designed for old people, as recommended in my Department's 1958 and 1960 handbooks. New building is also supplemented by the conversion of older properties into accommodation suitable for old people.

This is encouraging progress, but I am taking every opportunity to urge local authorities and housing associations to do still more building for old people.

Mr. Eden

In spite of the progress that has been made, is my right hon. Friend aware that there is still a very great need for this type of housing? Whilst I am grateful for what my right hon. Friend says, will he use his power to the maximum possible extent to ensure that local authorities tackle this problem with a real sense of urgency, particularly in constituencies such as mine where there is a high proportion of elderly people in the population?

Mr. Brooke

I am very anxious to see a sense of urgency amongst local authorities everywhere. There is a limit to what I can do in pressing the local authorities to act. The ultimate decision in these matters rests with public opinion, which, I am happy to say, is becoming more and more alive to the needs of old people.

26. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Govern- ment and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many applications for grants of public money for housing the elderly have been made by housing associations in the county of Northumberland; to which authorities they have been made; and which have been agreed.

Mr. Brooke

As the Answer is long and involves a list of local authority areas, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Dame Irene Ward

Will my right hon. Friend kindly look at the position in Gosforth, where I live? Is he aware that we have a vigorous housing association there, that people have collected quite a substantial sum in order to make process and that for some reason or another the local authority, having once given the "go-ahead", has now retreated? Will he bear in mind that this is extremely disappointing and that many people are waiting for this housing association to move forward?

Mr. Brooke

I must observe the law. If my hon. Friend will send me particulars of that case where she feels that things are not going right, I shall be very glad to look at it.

Following is the information: As far as I am aware, there are some seven housing associations in Northumberland which have been active in recent years; three of these are specially concerned with housing the elderly. My information relates only to those applications which are submitted for my consent or approval, and is most easily expressed in terms of the number of properties on which grants of public money have been made. On this basis, the answer is that Exchequer housing subsidy has been paid on 70 new dwellings built by the Northumberland Aged Mineworkers Homes Association since the war in the area of the five following local authorities: Amble U.D.C., Ashington U.D.C., Castle Ward R.D.C., Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and Seaton Valley U.D.C. Improvement grant has been paid to that Association on some 400 properties in the area of the following 15 local authorities:
  • Alnwick R.D.C.
  • Ashington U.D.C.
  • Bedlingtonshire U.D.C.
  • Blyth M.B.
  • Castle Ward R.D.C.
  • Gosforth U.D.C.
  • Haltwhistle R.D.C.
  • Longbenton U.D.C.
  • Morpeth R.D.C.
  • Newbiggin-by-the-Sea U.D.C.
    • 765
  • Newburn U.D.C.
  • Newcastle C.B.
  • Prudhoe U.D.C.
  • Seaton Valley U.D.C.
  • Tynemouth C.B.
 Improvement grant has also been paid to another association for the conversion into dwellings for old people of a number of their properties in Newcastle-upon-Tyne County Borough. Hostel grant is being paid to a further association for the conversion into accommodation for the elderly of a property in Northam and Islandshires.
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