§ Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to announce the details of the arrangements made between the Building Societies Association and the National House Building Council for the assessment of methods of repair and for insurance of repair to prefabricated concrete houses.
§ Mr. GowI refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him of 30 January, at column 179–80. Good progress is being made. I will make a further announcement as soon as the arrangements are finalised.
§ Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice or assistance he intends to give to owners of prefabricated concrete houses built after 1960 and not covered by the Housing Defects Act but which the building societies are reluctant to handle.
§ Mr. GowThe Building Research Establishment's findings on prefabricated reinforced concrete dwellings relate only to types designed before 1960. My Department is not aware of any reports that any type of prefabricated concrete house of more recent design is inherently defective and there is therefore no basis on which my right hon. Friend could consider designating such types of dwelling under the Housing Defects Act 1984.
I am aware that some owners of prefabricated concrete houses built after 1960 have encountered difficulties relating to the mortgageability of their homes. Mortgage lending is a matter for the lending institutions concerned. In view of the difficulties which I have mentioned, my Department hopes to have further discussions with the Building Societies Association on the condition of dwellings of non-traditional design generally.