HC Deb 04 February 1958 vol 581 cc144-7W
58. Colonel Beamish

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will make a full statement about the grant scheme for the improvement of agricultural cottages, stating how many housing authorities decided to operate this scheme, and what percentage grants they made available, how many decided not to operate the scheme, how many have temporarily cancelled the giving of grants and what is the total amount granted so far; and whether he is aware of the widespread criticism that this grant scheme has not so far had the results which were hoped for.

Mr. H. Brooke

As to progress with improvement grants generally I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Henley (Mr. Hay) on 21st January.

My records do not distinguish between agricultural cottages and other dwellings improved with grant aid, but up to the end of 1957 out of a total of 109,000 grants approved for private dwellings in England and Wales more than 57,000 had been made by rural district councils.

During the past 18 months rural district councils have approved grants for this purpose of more than £5½ million. This does not suggest grounds for widespread criticism.

75. Sir I. Fraser

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will name the 124 local authorities in England and Wales who have so far made no improvement and conversion grants to private individuals under the Housing Acts.

Mr. H. Brooke

I am giving details below of the 124 authorities. These are the authorities which have not reported the payment of any grants; it may be that some of them have had no applications made to them.

Following is the list:

  • City of London
  • Bermondsey M.B.
  • Bethnal Green M.B.

County Boroughs

  • Burnley
  • Derby
  • Stockport
  • Wigan

Boroughs

  • Blyth
  • Eye
  • Fowey
  • Hedon
  • Lostwithiel
  • Lymington
  • Lytham St. Annes
  • Mitcham
  • Oldbury
  • Redcar
  • St. Ives
  • Southgate
  • Wembley
  • Whitehaven
  • Workington

Urban Districts

  • Abram
  • Ashby Woulds
  • Aspull
  • Basildon
  • Benfleet
  • Biddulph
  • Billinge and Winstanley
  • Bishops Stortford
  • Blackrod
  • Bletchley
  • Bowden
  • Brierfield
  • Brigg
  • Brightlingsea
  • Budleigh Salterton
  • Burnham-on-Crouch
  • Burnham-on-Sea
  • Canvey Island
  • Carnforth
  • Chester-le-Street
  • Chorley Wood
  • Crawley
  • Cudworth
  • Droylsden
  • Ellesmere
  • Fareham
  • Garforth
  • Gosforth
  • Harlow
  • Hazelgrove and Bramhall
  • Hemsworth
  • Horncastle
  • Hornsea
  • Horwich
  • Huyton-with-Roby
  • Kenilworth
  • Keswick
  • Kingsbridge
  • Kingswood
  • Linslade
  • Little Lever
  • Looe
  • Lynton
  • Melksham
  • New Mills
  • Northam
  • Norton
  • Norton Radstock
  • Orrell
  • Oswaldtwistle
  • Ottery St. Mary
  • Padiham
  • Padstow
  • Paignton
  • Penistone
  • Preesall
  • Prescot
  • Rainford
  • 147
  • Rayleigh
  • Rishton
  • Royston
  • Ryton
  • St Just
  • Sawbridgeworth
  • Salcombe
  • Saltburn
  • Shildon
  • Sidmouth
  • Skelmersdale
  • Southwick
  • Swanage
  • Tickhill
  • Trawden
  • Tyldesley
  • Ware
  • Warminster
  • Welwyn Garden City
  • West Mersea
  • Whickham
  • Whitefield
  • Wivenhoe

Rural District Councils

  • Burnley
  • Marshland
  • Stokesley
  • Thorne
  • Scilly Isles (have not sought power to make grants).

WALES

Boroughs

  • Conway
  • Flint
  • Llanldloes
  • Pembroke
  • Tenby

Urban Districts

  • Ammanford
  • Bettws-y-Coed
  • Burry Port
  • Caerphilly
  • Criccieth
  • Cwmamman
  • Llandudno
  • Mountain Ash
  • Nantyglo and Blaina
  • Newtown and Llanidloes
  • Porthcawl

Mr. Hay

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the names of the 124 local authorities who had made no grants, by 31st December, 1957, under Part II of the Housing Act, 1949, towards the cost of schemes of improvement and conversion.

Mr. H. Brooke

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I have today given to my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lonsdale (Sir I. Fraser).