Mrs. Ren·e Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the 213W total number of dwellings completed and under construction in the Wolverhampton area during the first quarter of 1979; how these figures compare with estimates for the second quarter; and how Government policy will affect these figures during 1980.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe total number of dwellings completed and under construction in each of the first two quarters of 1979 were:
Dwellings 1st quarter 2nd quarter Completed 146 171 Under construction at end of quarter 2,268 1,268 The amount of new building in 1980 will depend upon such things as existing
Number of schemes Number of dwellings Estimated grant* Conversion Improvement £ 1979—First quarter … … 59 14 75 1,110,000 Second quarter … … 24 27 26 614,000 * Estimated grant at project approval stage. Grant is not paid until project completion.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many specially-designed dwellings for the chronically sick and disabled were started and completed in the Wolverhampton area during 1978; and how Government policy will affect these figures during 1980.
§ Mr. StanleyTwo hundred and ten dwellings specially designed for the chronically sick and disabled were started in 1978, in the Wolverhampton district, and 34 were completed. The figures include "Wheelchair" and "Mobility" housing units.
The number of specially designed dwellings built in 1980 will depend upon such things as existing commitments, decisions yet to be taken about the housing investment programme allocation for 1980–81 for Wolverhampton, and the local authority's subsequent decisions about the mix of its housing expenditure.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many improvement and intermediate grants were paid to improve dwellings occupied by disabled persons in the Wolverhampton area during 1978; and how Government policy will affect these figures during 1980.
§ Mr. StanleyDuring 1978 two improvement grants and five intermediate grants214W commitments, the decisions of private builders, decisions yet to be taken about the housing investment programme allocation for 1980–81 for Wolverhampton, and the local authority's subsequent decisions about the mix of its housing expenditure.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Housing Association grants were given for conversion and improvement in the Wolverhampton area during the first quarter of 1979; and how these figures compare with estimates for the second quarter.
§ Mr. StanleyThe information is as follows:
were paid for improvement of dwellings in the Wolverhampton area occupied by disabled people.
For the future the Government published proposals for changes to the grant system will allow local authorities to waive rateable value limits in hardship cases where works are for the benefit of a disabled person.