§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received urging the making of the lack of an adequate or safe system of electrical supply a statutory defect under the Public Health Act; and what response he has made.
§ Sir George George YoungMy right hon. Friend has received occasional representations about the lack of specific powers enabling local authorities to take action against defective electrical installations in houses. In particular, the Minimum Housing Standards Bill, which the hon. Member for Liverpool, Edge Hill (Mr. Alton) introduced in May 1981, sought to bring electrical wiring within the remit of the statutory nuisance provisions of the Public Health Act 1936. Authorities have powers under the Housing Acts to deal with disrepair in houses, and this could include defective electrical wiring. In particular, we extended the powers of authorities by the Housing Act 1980 to enable them to take action, following a representation, against defects which interfered materially with the personal comfort of an occupying tenant. My advice is that this power will enable authorities to deal with defective electrical wiring provided it is so far defective as to interfere materially with the tenant's personal comfort, including his safety and security.