HC Deb 17 March 1982 vol 20 cc339-40
3. Mr. Dormand

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects to receive the report from the National Building Agency concerning repairs to houses in new towns.

The Minister for Housing and Construction (Mr. John Stanley)

As I told the hon. Member on 20 January, my right hon. Friend expects on present plans to receive this report by the end of May.

Mr. Dormand

How much longer does the Minister intend to prevaricate on this matter in relation to the new town of Peterlee? The delay is little short of a scandal. Is he not aware, as a result of the visit to Peterlee by his hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Ealing, Acton (Sir G. Young), a few weeks ago, of the tremendous difficulties suffered by literally hundreds of families there? Will he authorise an immediate substantial payment so that Easington district council can proceed with many of the repairs now needed for some of these people to live in decent conditions?

Mr. Stanley

The hon. Gentleman refers to prevarication. I remind him that the Association of District Councils first made representations on this issue to the Labour Government in March 1977. The Labour Government produced no outcome by the time they left office. Within a matter of months of the Conservative Government taking office an offer was made to the Association of District Councils, which, unhappily, it was unable to accept. We hope to have the report by the end of May. I remind the hon. Gentleman that three-quarters of the way through the present financial year Easington had spent only 58 per cent. of its housing capital allocation and housing capital receipts.

Mr. Newens

On what basis does the Minister have the effrontery to put the blame on the previous Government when three years have elapsed since the present Government came to office? Does he not recognise that this problem has been handled in an absolutely clumsy manner and that there have been completely unjustified delays? How on earth does he expect new town local authorities to plan when they have experienced similar problems over rate support grant decisions?

Mr. Stanley

I suspect that the hon. Gentleman did not hear what I said in reply to the hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Dormand). The previous Government did nothing for two years. We made an offer to the Association of District Councils within a matter of months of coming to office. The association was not able to accept the offer. That is why we have had to go to the National Building Agency for the survey.

Mr. Graham

Will the Minister bear in mind that anything less than a generous response will be seen as totally inadequate and in bad faith? Does he acknowledge that councillors have been very patient? Will he confirm undertakings previously given that, before the level of grants is finally determined, full consultation will take place with the councils involved?

Mr. Stanley

I can confirm what was said by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State in the debate on what became the New Towns Act and that there will be consultation with the authorities concerned.