HC Deb 19 May 1982 vol 24 cc346-7
18. Mr. Dormand

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to expedite the publication of the report on repairs to houses in new towns which was begun by the National Building Agency.

Mr. Stanley

The report to which the hon. Member refers is not due to be received, under the terms of the contract, until the end of this month. My latest information, however, is that this timetable will be adhered to.

Mr. Dormand

Does the Minister recall the many occasions on which I have raised with him the problems of housing in Peterlee new town, in my constituency? Must I remind him yet again of the desperate position of hundreds of my constituents? Recently, it has even been necessary to demolish houses in a new town. Will he stop prevaricating and make money available immediately instead of waiting for reports, the contents of which he well knows anyway?

Mr. Stanley

There is no question of prevarication, as I told the hon. Gentleman when he last raised the matter at Question Time. The report is due at the end of May and we have not yet reached that stage. As to the existing position, in making the HIP allocations we have borne in mind the prolems to which he refers. We have made it clear that if authorities use their HIP allocations to make the repairs to which he refers, that is without prejudice to their entitlemment or to any later decision on grant.

Mr. Dover

Will my hon. Friend assure the House that he has taken the necessary precautions to ensure that National Building Agency records are fully available in case such problems occur in the next few years?

Mr. Stanley

If there is anything to be learnt from the records of the National Building Agency, I see no difficulty in their being made available, subject to any copyright provisions.

Mr. Graham

Will the Minister confirm and repeat his previous assurance that once the report has been received and before he comes to any conclusion, he will ask for the views of the associations and the councils, so that they will have the opportunity not only to read the report but to examine its findings? Will he also bear in mind that, when he finally determines the percentage to be given towards the cost for councils to save the vast housing stock that is under threat, the percentage of grant must be substantial?

Mr. Stanley

I cannot anticipate our conclusion on the question of percentages, but we have already made it clear that we shall publish the report in conjunction with the Government's conclusions.