§ 10. Mr Hubbard-Milesasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to investigate the causes for the imminent demolition of Dunraven Court, Porthcawl, a block of flats erected in 1971–72 by a housing society set up under the Housing Corporation; and how much public money has been written off as a result.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsI share my hon. Friend's concern. I have already investigated the history of this building. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State visited Dunravan Court last month and the Welsh Office is keeping in close touch with developments. No public funds have been written off yet although the Housing Corporation is not expected to recover its second mortgage of some £150,000.
§ Mr. Hubbard-MilesDoes my hon. Friend agree that the residents of this block of flats should not suffer in any way as a result of the inadequancies and inefficiencies of a public body.
§ Mr. RobertsCertainly, but whether their present predicament arises solely because of the involvement of a public body—the Housing Corporation—is open to question. The flats were constructed in 1971–72 before the society was registered with the corporation under the Housing Act 1974. The Housing Corporation has no statutory responsibility for the co-owners but it is right and proper that it should be concerned for the residents' safety and it has taken on the responsibility of rehousing them if necessary.