35. Mrs. Slaterasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what further consideration has been given to the making of a housing improvement grant where a business premise and dwelling-house are one self-contained building.
§ Mr. BrookeI am not sure what the hon. Member has in mind, but if she will let me have particulars of the problem I will readily look into it.
Mrs. SlaterIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have already sent him particulars—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—including the plan of the premises to which I particularly refer, and does he not know that in a letter sent to the local authority of Stoke-on-Trent he said that if a shop and a dwellinghouse were adjoined no improvement grant can be made because of the possibility that they might be let as two separate dwellings? Therefore, are not small business people 1181 who are in a house adjoining a shop penalised by not benefiting from improvement grants which we are trying to popularise?
§ Mr. BrookeNo, I understand that my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary replied to a letter from the hon. Member and offered to give further help if more particulars could be provided——
§ Mr. Brooke—and if we can see more particulars we are very ready to help.