§ 31. Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of the recent report of the Institute of Environmental Health Officers on the effects of mould growing in damp housing, a copy of which has been sent to him, he has any proposals to assist local authorities to perform their statutory duties under the Public Health Act.
§ Sir George YoungThe Government's public expenditure plans allow for expenditure of £2,532 million by local authorities on housing in 1986–87, an increase of £200 million over the provision for 1985–86. The distribution of housing investment allocations to local authorities for 1986–87 is currently being considered in the light of consultations with the local authority associations.
§ 39. Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes discussing with the local authority associations the report of his Department's "Inquiry into the Condition of the Local Authority Housing Stock in England 1985".
§ Sir George YoungI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike) on 2 December 1985.
§ 43. Miss Maynardasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received in response to his Department's "Inquiry into the Condition of the Local Authority Housing Stock in England 1985", published last month.
§ Sir George YoungThe report of the inquiry has been generally welcomed as an important contribution towards a better understanding of local authority housing renovation problems. Preliminary discussions have already been held with the local authority associations and more will follow.
§ 51. Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses were started and completed in Leicester in 1979 and 1984, respectively.
§ Sir George YoungThe numbers of housebuiling starts and completions reported by Leicester in 1979 and 1984 appear in issues 59 and 74 of "Local Housing Statistics"; copies are available in the Library.