HC Deb 24 April 1975 vol 890 c350W
Mr. Brocklebank-Fowler

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the Government grant to North-West Norfolk for council house improvement has been cut by two-thirds.

Mr. Kaufman

Under Section 105 of the Housing Act 1974 expenditure by the North Norfolk and West Norfolk District Councils on the improvement and conversion of council-owned dwellings in 1975–76 will be limited to £89,100 and £324,600 respectively. In view of the financial limitations there are on the total volume of improvements, social priorities compel us to redirect resources to where they are needed most. The general principle behind the Section 105 allocations is progressively to redirect available resources away from the improvement of those purpose-built council dwellings already up to sound amenity standards, on which a disproportionate amount has been spent in recent years, towards tackling dwellings without standard amenities or in serious disrepair, especially those purchased from private owners as part of the programme of social ownership.