§ 22. Mr. Madelasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the Government's current policy on grants for PRC houses that need repairs and modernisation.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe housing defects legislation provides the framework for assistance to eligible owners of designated properties; local authorities are then responsible for its administration. My Department's circular 14/86 gave general guidance on reinstatement procedures; we look to local authorities to implement the legislation in a reasonable way.
§ 39. Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to increase 527W provision made for local housing authorities to enable defective PRC dwellings to be reinstated or repurchased in good time; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveWe generally expect local authorities to be able to meet their housing defects obligations from within their normal sources of spending power. Fourteen million pounds extra HIP resources were put aside, for 1987–88, for authorities facing particular HDA difficulties; Epping Forest was allocated an additional £350,000. We are currently discussing with the local authority associations the HIP distribution arrangements for 1987–88.