HC Deb 17 March 1982 vol 20 cc341-2
5. Mr. Trippier

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have, since May 1979, carried out schemes for the improvement of dwellings for sale.

Mr. Stanley

The improvement for sale scheme under the Housing Act 1980 came into effect only in November 1980. We understand that since then approximately 71 local authorities have undertaken improvement for sale.

Mr. Trippier

I thank my hon. Friend for his encouraging reply. What evidence exists that this is helping people, who otherwise would be unable to move into home ownership from rented accommodation?

Mr. Stanley

The initial results are very encouraging. The Housing Corporation has conducted a survey of purchasers of the initial houses bought under the improvement for sale scheme. That survey showed that nearly 60 per cent. of the purchasers were under 30 years of age and that one-third of them vacated either local authority or housing association rented accommodation, thereby easing the pressure on rented accommodation.

Mr. Spriggs

Is the Minister aware that some people in St. Helens are living in privately owned accommodation that is unfit for human habitation? The hon. Gentleman was asked about the sale of council property. Will he also consider a special grant to allow local authorities to build more council houses so that people may have homes that are fit to live in?

Mr. Stanley

I hope that St. Helens will make full use of the additional allocation provided by my right hon. Friend for the 1982–83 financial year. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will also welcome the substantial expansion of improvement grants announced last week by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Mr. Banks

Are there not many instances of private firms being denied opportunites of tendering for work of this nature because of the activities of direct labour organisations in local authorities? Will my hon. Friend consider reducing the threshold from £100, 000 to perhaps £50, 000 to enable those firms to tender for that sort of work?

Mr. Stanley

My hon. Friend will be aware that this matter does not arise directly out of the improvement for sale scheme. He may be aware also that my right hon. Friend has laid an order that will have the effect of reducing the tendering threshold for highway works from £100, 000 to £50, 000.

Forward to