§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress made to date towards a settlement of the claims of local authorities, to which new town development corporations and the New Towns Commission have transferred houses, for a financial contribution from central Government funds towards the repair and maintenance of these houses.
§ Mr. StanleyAn offer of 40 per cent. grant towards the cost of remedying defects in transferred housing, excluding the cost of normal maintenance and certain other categories, was made to the 223W Association of District Councils in January and was subsequently rejected by it as inadequate. We are considering the matter further.