§ 20. Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what fresh proposals he has to tackle the problems of older housing in Wales; and what new resources are available.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Ian Grist)We are continuing to encourage local 662 authorities to adopt a strategic approach to housing renewal. I am pleased to say that the Cynon Valley borough council is increasingly doing so and is making good use of the sharply increased resources we have made available to it.
§ Mrs. ClwydIs the Minister aware that the Cynon Valley has some of the worst housing in Britain and that it will cost about £64 million to bring housing up to modern levels? Is he further aware that at the present level of Government investment in housing it will take until at least the year 2,000 before the people in the Cynon Valley can live in decent housing? Why are Welsh Office Ministers condemning the people of the Cynon Valley to live in continuing deprivation and bad housing?
§ Mr. GristIt is extraordinary. In past years I have heard the hon. Lady ask similar questions, only to have it explained that her council was not spending the funds available to it on housing. Now that authority has been given as many resources as it considers it can spend during the current financial year. I do not think that we can do much more.