§ Mr. Armstrongasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has had in favour of increasing the £4,000 limit on modernisation of council dwellings; and what proposals he has for raising the cost limit.
§ Mr. ChannonThe present limit under the Housing Acts 1969 and 1971, for the purpose of calculating the Government contribution towards the cost of improving council houses, is £1,000 normally, and £2,000 in the development and intermediate areas for works completed before 23rd June 1974. No recent representations about the adequacy of this limit in relation to council housing schemes have been received. The Government do not consider that it is necessary to make any general increase in these limits of allowable cost in view of the additional help which is available to local authorities for this purpose under the Housing Finance Act 1972.