HC Deb 04 February 1976 vol 904 cc1191-2
16. Mr. Douglas-Mann

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give a general authorisation for the payment of improvement grants without authorisation under Section 105 of the Housing Act 1974 up to the maximum discretionary level (i) for houses built before 1919 and (ii) for houses built before 1946 and acquired under the municipalisation programme.

Mr. Armstrong

Initial repairs to newly acquired council property and all improvements to acquired property in housing action areas do not count against the allocations approved under Section 105.

Mr. Douglas-Mann

As far as I heard that reply, I think that it was welcome. Does not my hon. Friend agree, however, that the expenditure on Section 105 grants is probably the most productive, pound for pound, of all expenditure to meet housing need? Is he aware that during the current financial year administrative delays, and particularly the late stage in the year at which information was given to local authorities about the amount that they might spend, have seriously stultified this expenditure? Will he take steps to ensure that in the next financial year authorities are allowed to spend the money more effectively?

Mr. Armstrong

I take on board what my hon. Friend has said. We have already announced the allocations for next year. They were included recently in the Official Report.

Mr. Michael Latham

In order to assist the laudable wish to improve houses built before 1919, would it not be better to save money by stopping municipalisation altogether?

Mr. Armstrong

The evidence that we have is that some very acute housing distress has been met by the allocations. I take a view contrary to that of the hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Rossi

Will the Minister confirm that the provisional figures for 1975 show that the total number of improvement grant applications approved was 159,000 compared with 453,000 for 1973, a disastrous and discreditable drop in this vital sector where the resuscitation of our old housing stock is so essential to the wellbeing of our people?

Mr. Armstrong

The hon. Gentleman does his case no good by these exaggerations. The figures that he gave are over the whole field, including private improvements, and bear no relation to the tremendous social problem and the reason for our allocations. We are directing resources where they are most desperately needed.

Mr. Rossi

Does the Minister agree that the figure for 1973 for local authorities was 193,000—more than the total provision for 1975 for both sectors?

Mr. Armstrong

I am not denying these figures, but they must be seen against the context of an increase in actual resources of almost 30 per cent. for the housing need of this country, an increase which has been directed to where it is most needed.