HC Deb 17 February 1992 vol 204 cc4-5
3. Dr. Kim Howells

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met representatives of Taff Ely borough council to discuss the future of the Glyntaff Farm estate.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

Neither I nor my right hon. Friend has done so, but our officials are regularly in touch with the local authority.

Dr. Howells

By any index, the Glyntaff Farm estate is one of the most deprived and run down in Wales, and there are many like it in the Principality. Its young population, including many young children, live in houses which are falling apart and which it is estimated will cost £22 million to repair. When will the Minister do something about the administrative constipation that prevents the Welsh Office from acting, and ensure that my constituents have a better life than they have had until now?

Mr. Bennett

The hon. Gentleman will know, because he has been in correspondence with my right hon. Friend, that we are anxious to facilitate the transfer of properties to the new tenants housing association as soon as possible, but, clearly, there are matters of finance which have to be sorted out. I can assure him that I share his concerns. I want to see it happen and we shall continue to maintain close contact with the local authority to ensure that it does.

Mr. Murphy

With many estates in Wales such as Glyntaff in need of serious attention, with nearly 80,000 people on council house waiting lists in Wales, with mortgage repossessions at a record high and with nearly 20,000 homeless people in the Principality, does the Minister still insist that there is no Welsh housing crisis?

Mr. Bennett

It is interesting to consider the reality of the situation, as opposed to what the hon. Gentleman says. Under Housing for Wales, we are this year giving £170 million towards the construction of new houses. The hon. Gentleman talks about waiting lists, but he should consider an article in the Daily Post on 7 February this year which states that Anglesey—Ynys Mon borough council said that it has been able to slash the waiting list from 1,522 people to only 147 by considering what people want, the number of people on the list and whether they have a valid demand. That is the reality.

I am pleased to be able to announce today that I am making available a further £1 million to five local authorities to help them to tackle homelessness pressures in their areas. A lot has been done by this Government —we do not merely sit and talk as the Opposition do. Action is what counts and that is what we are providing for Wales.