§ 3. Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses in east Lancashire (a) are unfit for habitation and (b) require repairs to bring them up to a habitable standard. [12502]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. James Clappison)At the most recent estimate, there were approximately 48,800 houses statutorily unfit in east Lancashire.
§ Mr. PrenticeDoes the Minister appreciate that 67 per cent. of properties in Pendle were built before 1919, which is the highest percentage of any local authority in England outside inner London? Does he further appreciate that 25,000 properties there are in need of repair and that 5,400 are unfit? Ministers presumably want people to live in warm and comfortable homes, so why have Conservative policies been such a failure in north-east Lancashire?
§ Mr. ClappisonThe hon. Gentleman is right inasmuch as east Lancashire has one of the highest proportions of older properties in the country, which is a particular problem. According to the most recent analysis of the English house condition survey, the number of unfit properties in the country as a whole has fallen by about 10 per cent. The hon. Gentleman's local authority will no doubt want to deal with its particular problems by taking advantage of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 strategically to use the renovation grants that the Government provide to—[Interruption.]
I am hearing sedentary comments from the hon. Member for Greenwich (Mr. Raynsford). The implication of what he is saying and the implication of the hon. Gentleman's question is that they are pleading for additional public expenditure and the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher), who is sitting next to the hon. Member for Greenwich, has his own ideas about 784 increases in taxation which could bring that about. The fact must be faced—this is a clear plea for extra public expenditure.
§ Dame Elaine Kellett-BowmanIs my hon. Friend aware that the number of single pensioners—they are the most vulnerable people—who live in unfit dwellings fell by 10 per cent. between 1986 and 1991? Is not that an important improvement in the conditions of our elderly population?
§ Mr. ClappisonMy hon. Friend makes an excellent point. It is indeed good news that pensioners' housing conditions have improved. Pensioners will no doubt want to take advantage of the more generous home repairs assistance under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996.