§ 7. Mr. Andersonasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will consider financially assisting Swansea City Council in tackling the problem of corrosion in steel houses.
§ Mr. Alec JonesWelsh Office officials are in touch with the council on this matter. No specific request for financial assistance has been received, but my right hon. and learned Friend would, of course, be prepared to examine any application.
§ Mr. AndersonDoes my hon. Friend accept that, because of its nature and scale, the problem of corrosion in Swansea merits special treatment beyond the normal allocation for repairs? If such an application were made, would he give a grant to Swansea over and above its normal repair allocation?
§ Mr. Alec JonesThe work which Swansea proposes to undertake is classified as repair and as such is normally financed either from the housing revenue account or, if borrowing is resorted to, from its main block allocation. We are prepared to increase that allocation.
§ Mr. RoderickWhile my hon. Friend is thinking about housing costs, will he try to introduce a little more flexibility into the housing cost yardstick as applied to rural areas?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman is widening the Question until it covers the whole of Wales.