§ Dr. Winstanleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that empty houses or flats acquired by local authorities for subsequent reletting are made to conform to the Parker Morris standards before they are relet.
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§ Mr. FreesonLocal authorities are encouraged through Exchequer aid to improve all substandard housing which they own, including empty houses which they acquire, and this will normally entail adoption of the 12-point standard applicable to the private sector. Parker Morris standards are essentially relevant to new dwellings and cannot be rigidly applied to existing dwellings without incurring unjustifiable expenditure. To the extent that Parker Morris standards can be achieved in improved local authority dwellings, however, Government subsidy is generally available.