HC Deb 13 March 1972 vol 833 cc17-8
22. Mr. Alec Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will seek to amend the Housing Act, 1971, in order to enable local authorities in development areas to pay the 75 per cent. grant for home improvement grants if they are started, as opposed to completed, by 23rd June. 1973.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

I have noted the hon. Member's point, but the purpose of the Act was to get improvement work for the areas concerned brought forward and completed as quickly as possible.

Mr. Jones

Does not the hon. Gentleman realise that failure to extend the deadline for the payment of the 75 per cent. grants will mean unfair treatment between one claimant and another, will delay housing improvements and will certainly affect local authorities which are anxiously trying to get on with general improvement areas? Will he at least call a conference of the local authorities in Wales to discuss their very real fears in this respect?

Mr. Gibson-Watt

As I said, I have noted the hon. Member's point. Of course, the 1971 Act has been designed to produce a short, sharp campaign of housing modernisation to give much-needed help to development and intermediate areas.

Sir A. Meyer

Is my hon. Friend aware that the area of home improvement grants is yet another in which Flintshire is discriminated against by virtue of not being part of the Welsh development area?

Mr. Gibson-Watt

I cannot make any useful comment on that point.

Mr. Roy Hughes

Does the hon. Gentleman now agree that the Government should concede that it would be in the best interests of owner-occupiers, of tenants and of local authorities if the scheme were extended beyond June, 1973? Will he not further appreciate that builders could then plan their later requirements accordingly and thus help to solve the present chronic unemployment position in Wales?

Mr. Gibson-Watt

I note the strength of view on this point from several hon. Members. I cannot add to the answer I have given this afternoon.