HC Deb 21 February 1990 vol 167 cc923-4
10. Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of city grants that have been made during the past two years for projects in West Yorkshire for each authority for (a) housing, (b) industrial and (c) commercial; and if he will make a statement.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Colin Moynihan)

Since May 1988, grants totalling more than £1.5 million have been approved for three housing, one industrial and two commercial projects in West Yorkshire. I am placing details of each project in the Library.

Mr. Fatchett

Will the Minister talk to the chairman of Leeds development corporation about the way in which the corporation spends city grants, and in particular about his authoritarian and arrogant attitude which has put at risk an important development in Leeds—the opening of a hotel on a crucial site in terms of the city's overall development? Will the Minister hold such a meeting and ask the chairman of Leeds development corporation to talk yet again to Holiday Inn hotels about grants and allow that important development for the city to go ahead?

Mr. Moynihan

I can do more than that. Apart from ensuring that the chairman of Leeds development corporation knows exactly what the hon. Gentleman said this afternoon, I can inform the hon. Gentleman that this morning we were in touch with the chairman's office. The chairman will be happy to have a meeting in person with the hon. Gentleman and any other colleagues who have an interest in the project.

Mr. Batiste

Although I welcome my hon. Friend's statement, which demonstrates the Government's support for West Yorkshire, may I ask him to monitor carefully over the next two years the evidence for the take-up of grants across the region, particularly those that are designed to improve the housing stock? Is there evidence of home owners becoming reluctant to improve their homes as the horrendous implications of the Labour party's roof tax become more widely known?

Mr. Moynihan

On my hon. Friend's latter point, I am confident that that will be the case. We shall continue to monitor closely the impact of city grants on the development of jobs and the number of new homes coming on to the market, both of which are key criteria when assessing any application for grant.

Mr. O'Brien

The Minister's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) about housing was abysmal. There is a dramatic shortage of rented accommodation in West Yorkshire in particular but throughout the country in general. That has been caused by high mortgage interest rates. If there have to be city grants, will the Minister ensure that more of the money is targeted on new housing for rent, at rents which people in West Yorkshire in particular but throughout the country in general can afford to pay? There is a great need for such housing. I hope that the Minister will address that serious problem.

Mr. Moynihan

The record of city grants for housing is excellent, with 11,000 homes being built nationwide. I regret the hon. Gentleman's introductory remarks. If he had concentrated on my answer, he would have heard that, of the six projects in West Yorkshire, two are commercial, one is industrial and three concentrate on housing.