§ Mr. William O'Brienasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what assessment he has made of the implications of implementing circular 26/85, relating to the withdrawal of improvement grants for council house tenants, for the work on the Wakefield metropolitan district council on adaptations to council houses for the disabled and the infirm; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what assessment he has made of the implications for handicapped and infirm council house tenants of implementing circular 26/85 of the withdrawal of improvement grants for council house tenants.
§ Sir George YoungThe circular does not withdraw grants for council house tenants. It does, however, state that, for grants approved on or after 2 December 1985, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will not normally pay Exchequer contribution towards grants where the grant is paid to a tenant of the local authority and the authority intends to pay all or part of that proportion of the cost which is not met by the grant. However, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is prepared to consider individual applications by local authorities for payment of Exchequer contribution.