HC Deb 22 January 1986 vol 90 cc287-8
1. Mr. Nellist

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been his Department's allocation to Coventry city council for housing expenditure each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

The Minister for Housing, Urban Affairs and Construction (Mr. John Patten)

The housing investment programme allocations made to Coventry city council each year, beginning with 1978–79, have been £13.3 million, £13.7 million, £10.5 million, £7.7 million, £12.2 million, £8.1 million, £8.9 million, £7.7 million and for 1986–87, £7.3 million. Comparisons between years can be misleading, because since 1981–82 local authorities have been able to add to their spending power through the use of the prescribed proportion of their capital receipts.

Mr. Nellist

Is the Minister aware that identifiable modernisations, repairs and renovations for Coventry now total about £150 million and that the Government's drip feed of £7.25 million means that many urgently needed repairs will not be completed until well into the next century? There is male unemployment of between 20 and 50 per cent. in the wards of Coventry, South-East, and not many of my constituents can afford £400,000 Barratt retirement homes in Dulwich.

Mr. Patten

That question was put by the hon. Gentleman with characteristic moderation. First, the hon. Gentleman should explain to his constituents that the Government's allocation of housing money is but one part of the resources that are available to the city council. Another substantial source of funds can be from the councils own accumulated capital receipts, and I understand that it is planning to make use of them.

Secondly, and lastly, I hope that the hon. Gentleman will encourage Coventry city council to do what I am advised it is already considering enthusiastically, namely, co-operating with private sector interests to bring more much-needed money into Coventry. We shall do all that we can to help the council through the urban housing renewal unit.

Mr. Marlow

In the words of Opposition Members, are not some of the feudal estates that are run by some municipal authorities, including Coventry, among the great environmental disasters of the century? If we want to help the constituents of the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist), as we do, the sooner and the more we get the private sector into the management of public housing, the better.

Mr. Patten

My hon. Friend is right. Some Labour authorities, to do them justice, do care and are trying extremely hard to bring all the private resources that are available to bear and into use. The Oldham and Salford authorities are two examples. Unfortunately, Labour-controlled city councils in other areas seem unable sometimes to manage their own housing stock properly. Yesterday—[Interruption.]—in Stoke-on-Trent, Central —the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Mr. Fisher) is not in his place—I saw an 80-year-old widow who had been left in the most awful conditions.

Mr. Park

Those who are waiting to have their houses made habitable in Coventry or to gain accommodation for the first time—there are several thousands of them—will not be comforted by the Minister's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist). In an earlier debate, the Minister may know that I spelt out the time that it would take to complete some of the schemes on which Coventry is already engaged—

Mr. Speaker

Order.

Mr. Park

I appreciate that you are calling me to order, Mr. Speaker, but you allowed the Minister to continue with his reply.

Mr. Speaker

I was worried that the hon. Member for Coventry, North-East (Mr. Park) might continue to recount a previous debate.

Mr. Park

I am sorry, Mr. Speaker.

Will the Minister take into account the fact that the figures that he has produced show a steady deterioration? Is he aware that Coventry city council negotiated with private builders to refurbish some of the high-rise blocks of flats that need revamping, including the installation of central heating? After months of negotiations they backed out, and the city council has had to start all over again.

Mr. Patten

I apologise for taking so long over my previous answer. I hope that the hon. Gentleman wi,1 not attempt to inhibit the delicate negotiations between the city council and a number of potential developers, which are aimed at bringing much needed private money into Coventry. It is that money, with perhaps the 'help of my Department and the urban housing renewal unit, that can lead to the solution of many of the problems to which he referred.