HC Deb 16 December 1969 vol 793 cc1123-4
41. Mr. Arthur Jones

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what has been the effect on local authority house building schemes of the fact that flats are empty, and of the costs arising from the strengthening of tower blocks of flats following the Ronan Point disaster.

Mr. Freeson

The need to examine and change the structural details of some systems of building delayed a number of schemes at construction or design stages. It is difficult to quantify these delays in total, but they have had some effect over and above the factors my right hon. Friend mentioned in the House on 4th November.—[cols. 853–7.]

Mr. Jones

I am grateful to the Parliamentary Secretary for that reply, but it does not deal with the question which I raised about Ronan Point. Are not the Government gravely concerned about the circumstances which have arisen as a result of this collapse? Are not they in effect opting out of the problems facing local authorities?

Mr. Freeson

No, we are not opting out. Consideration is still being given to the representations received earlier this year from the associations about the 40 per cent. grant offer. On the general question of information about the additional costs, we are still awaiting information from the many authorities concerned. Some has come in, but there is still more to come.

Mr. Conlan

Does my hon. Friend agree that local authorities are being placed in great difficulty by the constant delay in announcing a final figure of grant for strengthening purposes? Would he consider, for grant purposes, the question of rent lost due to flats being unoccupied as a result of the lack of a decision on this matter?

Mr. Freeson

On the latter point, I cannot say at this stage that such an element will be taken into account. This is one of the points still being considered by the Minister. I have my doubts about rent loss being agreed in the end. On the first point, there is no reason why local authorities should delay their schemes, because they can go ahead on a provisional basis with the 40 per cent. grant, subject to final decision.