HC Deb 05 November 1975 vol 899 cc216-8W
Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a list of the applications from local authorities for improvement moneys under Section 105, broken down into improvements on acquired properties and existing council-built properties.

Mr. Armstrong

I hope to be able to provide information about the position for 1976–77 before the end of 1975.

Mr. Whitehead

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why Section 105 of the Housing Act 1974 is being used to discourage local authorities from commencing housing improvement and conversion schemes outside the improvement of sub-standard municipalised dwellings, bringing empty dwellings back into use and provision of standard amenities; and whether he considers these to be appropriate priority categories in all local authority areas.

Mr. Freeson

The priorities for 1976–77which were stated in my reply of 4th August 1975 to my hon. Friend the Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Wellbeloved)—[Vol. 897, c.65–6]—and which go wider than those stated in the Question, reflect the Government's assessment of national priorities in the use of scarce resources. Distribution of funds according to these priorities should ensure that proportionately more help goes to those authorities whose needs are greatest. But in deciding individual allocations, we will take account of other, local needs. How individual authorities should use resources allocated to them is being discussed by the Study Group on Programmes of Social Ownership and Renovation of Council Dwellings, which include local authority associations and GLC representatives.

Mr. Whitehead

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the local authorities which have submitted proposals by 30th September 1975 for the improvement, conversion and loan-financed repairs of local authority dwellings for the financial years 1976–77 and 1977–78, as required under Section 105 of the Housing Act 1974.

Mr. Freeson

All housing authorities in England except the following:

North West South West
Bury Stroud
Halton Tewkesbury
Liverpool Mendip
Ribble Valley Sedgemoor
Salford Taunton Deane
Tameside Kennet
Wigan North Wiltshire
Crewe and Nantwich Bath
Knowsley Bristol
Macclesfield Kingswood
Rochdale Penwith
South Ribble North Devon
Warrington Plymouth
Ellesmere Port Tiverton
Lancaster West Devon
Preston Bournemouth
Rossendale Christchurch
Stockport Poole
West Lancashire Purbeck
West Dorset
Yorkshire and Humberside Weymouth
Wimbourne
Beverley Forest of Dean
Bradford Gloucester
Doncaster Torridge
Scunthorpe
Selby London
East Midlands Greater London Council
City of London
Leicester Bromley
Charnwood Camden
Melton Ealing
Boston Hackney
North Kesteven Hammersmith
South Holland Harrow
South Kesteven Lambeth
East Lindsey Lewisham
West Lindsey Redbridge
Lincoln Richmond upon
Northampton Thames
Corby Waltham Forest
Daventry Wandsworth
East Northamptonshire
Broxtowe West Midlands
Bassetlaw
Gedling Leominster
Mansfield Oswestry
Rushcliffe South Shropshire
Chesterfield Rugby
High Peak
North East Derbyshire
South Derbyshire

Mr. Whitehead

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received from local authorities regarding information requested under Section 105 of the Housing Act 1974.

Mr. Freeson

None.