§ Mr. Chopeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many prefabricated reinforced concrete 585W houses which are likely to be subject to demolition under the Housing Defects Bill (a) are in the ownership of Southampton city council and (b) have been sold by Southampton city council.
§ Mr. GowThe Housing Defects Bill provides for assistance to eligible owners of relevant interests in defective dwellings either by way of reinstatement grant or by way of repurchase. Decisions to demolish prefabricated reinforced concrete houses will be taken by private or local authority owners as and when the condition of individual houses requires, and the Department has no information on which to base the estimate sought by my hon. Friend.