§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what restrictions regarding the age of the accommodation and its rateable value apply in respect of applications by disabled occupants for improvement and intermediate grants under the Housing Act 1974; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kaufman:I am advised that applications for improvement grants and intermediate grants in respect of dwellings for a disabled occupant, under the Housing Act 1974 as amended, are no less subject than other applications to the limitation in Section 56(3) relating to the age of the dwelling, and to the provisions in Section 62 relating to the rateable value of the dwelling. My right hon. Friend considers it appropriate, however, that local authorities should be able to exercise their discretion under Section 56(4) to entertain an application of this kind, where they consider it appropriate to do so, regardless of the age of the dwelling and he therefore has it in mind to issue a direction to local authorities to that effect.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether a disabled person who attends a residential training course sponsored by the Government outside his home area thereby loses his housing rights in his home area; and if he will make a statement;
(2) whether a disabled person who is admitted to a residential institution outside his home area thereby loses his housing rights in his home area; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kaufman:It is the responsibility of housing authorities, with their knowledge of individual cases, to consider and decide applications for council housing. But I should certainly deplore any policy of removing from a housing waiting list the names of disabled people who had temporarily left their home area, or of 260W refusing to confirm or accept an application from disabled people who had done so.