§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals to make special provision for the funding of repairs to local authority-owned Boswell-type houses; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RoeNo; local authorities must decide their own expenditure priorities, including renovation of their own housing stock, within the overall resources available to them.
§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to approve a repair system in respect of Boswell-type houses, designated under the Housing Act 1985; what advice he has offered owners of such houses awaiting action on their homes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RoeUnder the housing defects legislation it is for the local authority, rather than the Secretary of State, to specify the works needed in any particular case. However, the National House Building Council has set up a subsidiary company, PRC Homes Ltd., to approve and632W license repair systems for designated houses. I understand that no repair method has yet been proposed for Boswell houses and that the nature of the defect is such that repair to the standard required by the legislation is not easy. Meanwhile, it could be helpful if owners awaiting action were to discuss the position with their local authorities and reach an understanding on a likely timetable for assistance.