HC Deb 20 January 1982 vol 16 cc270-1
11. Mr. Dormand

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the report of the National Building Agency relating to the condition of houses in certain new towns.

Mr Stanley

On present plans my right hon. Friend expects to receive the report by the end of May.

Mr. Dormand

Is the Minister aware of the massive problems facing Easington district council relating to Peterlee new town? Is he aware that one estimate of the cost of repairing houses in the town is £40 million? How can he expect local people to bear that cost? When the report is received, will Peterlee have first priority, especially as one of the Minister's colleagues admitted a few months ago that its plight was worse than that of all the other new towns? As Easington district council was told to get on with the repairs and that some money would be refunded, why has it not yet received a penny?

Mr. Stanley

I am aware of the problems facing Easington district council. The hon. Gentleman strongly represents the council and his constituents. In making the HIP allocation to the authority we have borne in mind the problems created by the defects in the Peterlee new town houses that have been transferred to Easington. Despite our decision to wind up the National Building Agency, we have this morning signed an agreement under which the new town defects contract will be transferred to a private sector consultancy formed by former NBA staff.

Mr. Philip Holland

By what date does my hon. Friend expect the NBA to complete all its tasks and be wound up?

Mr. Stanley

As my right hon. Friend said, we are working to a wind-up date of March 1982.

Mr. Foster

As the £16 million repair bill that the Sedgefield district council will have to meet as a result of repairs in the new town of Newton Aycliffe will have risen by at least 12 per cent. as a result of the year's delay occasioned by the Minister referring the problem to the NBA, what does he intend to do?

Mr. Stanley

One of the main reasons for the delay was that we were unable to agree with representatives of the Association of District Councils on the basis for a settlement. That led to a reference to the NBA. The association, through its various authorities affected by the problem, has bid for a substantial sum of public money and it is incumbent on us to establish the exact technical nature of the problem and to cost it as accurately as we can before payments are made.