HC Deb 15 March 1982 vol 20 cc12-3
12. Mr. Grist

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the total estimated number of house improvement grants made in Wales during the current financial year.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

It is estimated that some 5, 200 house improvement grants of all categories were made by Welsh local authorities between 1 April and 31 December 1981. Following the Chancellor's statement last week, I expect the number of grants to go up significantly as householders take advantage of the 90 per cent. maximum rate of grant for the limited period to 31 December 1982.

Mr. Grist

Will my hon. Friend make sure that people are aware of the dates between which these new grants apply? Is he able to say how much of the money involved is coming to Wales?

Mr. Roberts

With regard to the latter part of my hon. Friend's question, the Welsh share of the sum to which the Chancellor referred is £4.8 million. We shall make every effort to publicise the availability of these grants.

Mr. Wigley

Does the Minister accept that the increase in the percentage ceiling on grants is not much good if local authorities lack the funds to pay discretionary grants? This has been the case, in many instances, in the last year in Wales. How will the Minister ensure that there are adequate funds to enable authorities to meet requests when they are received?

Mr. Roberts

The hon. Gentleman will have heard me refer to the capital receipts available to local authorities from council house sales. Welsh local authorities are likely to show an underspend on their total housing budget in the current year. So there is money available. I exhort local authorities, particularly those that may not have been paying up to the maximum percentage of the grant available, to do so forthwith.

Mr. Alec Jones

Will the Minister consult his colleagues and reconsider the decision to set an end date for the 90 per cent. grant? I am sure that the Department can provide figures to bear out my recollection that when the grant was last increased to 75 per cent. an unfortunate by-product was the large number of cowboy builders who came into Wales, with the result that some very poor improvement work was carried out.

Mr. Roberts

We are anxious to give an immediate boost. That is what the increase in grant percentage has done. I must remind the right hon. Gentleman that it is all very well pressing for a continuation of the 90 per cent. grant—it is a considerable percentage—but we must live within what the country can afford.