§ 4. Mr. Graham Pageasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of improvement grants to be approved in 1968 as compared with 1967.
§ Mr. MacCollOne hundred and thirteen thousand grants were approved in England and Wales in 1967, of which nearly 45,000 were approved in the first five months. The corresponding figure 254 for January to May, 1968, was nearly 50,000 but I am not yet in a position to make an estimate for 1968 as a whole.
§ Mr. PageIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the number in 1967 was very much less than in 1964–65? Does not he think that there is a danger at present that applications will be held back pending the legislation which the Government have in mind? Can anything be done about that to bring the applications forward now? When will the new grants become available under that new legislation?
§ Mr. MacCollIt is because we were unhappy about the rate at which improvement grants were coming in that we propose this very great new change of the machine. A great many improvements can be done under the existing legislation. What the change does is to extend the costs within which grants are available. For many people it is wise to go ahead now, though some might benefit by waiting to see whether they can get an area grant. I cannot say when the legislation will be introduced, but I hope that it will be soon.
§ Mr. Julius SilvermanHow many of the houses improved are owner-occupied, and how many are tenanted?
§ Mr. MacCollIf my hon. Friend wants an accurate figure, perhaps he will put down a Question and then I shall give him the latest.