§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have studied achievements of the Ferndale House Improvement Scheme in the Rhondda Valley, and in particular its success in mobilising and making effective various statutory aids that Parliament has approved for pensioners; and whether it is true that the Manpower Services Commission is proposing not to consider any new schemes for essential repairs to houses owned and occupied by elderly people of limited means and reduced physical capacity for carrying out repairs, and if so, why.
§ Lord BelsteadThe Ferndale House Improvement Scheme is sponsored by the Rhondda Borough Council and assisted under the Urban Aid Programme for a period of five years from 1980–81. It is an experimental project and its progress and effectiveness are being monitored. I am told by the Manpower Services Commission that an application for help towards the scheme under the Community Enterprise Programme earlier this year was not successful. Since then there have been further discussions and it is anticipated that another application will be made.