HC Deb 22 February 1990 vol 167 cc894-5W
Mr. Thurnham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the new system of house renovation grants provided in part VIII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 will be brought into effect in England and Wales.

Mr. Chope

With my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, I have considered very carefully requests by the local authority associations and others that introduction of the new system should be deferred to allow further consultation on the rest of resources regulations and to give local authorities more time to prepare for implementation.

In the light of these representations we have therefore decided that the main provisions of part VIII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 should be brought into effect on 1 July 1990 and not from 1 April as originally planned. From April to June the existing system of home improvement grants will remain in force.

We have, however, decided to bring into effect the new assistance for minor works on 1 April. This will enable local authorities to continue to provide help for insulation measures for those on certain state benefits, and also for certain other purposes such as repair work for the elderly.

Part VII of the 1989 Act, introducing renewal areas in place of housing action areas and general improvement areas, will also be brought into force on 1 April, together with a number of provisions in part IX of the Act dealing with unfit housing.

My Department and the Welsh Office are writing to all local housing authorities with further details of how these provisions in respect of the repair and improvement of private sector housing are to be implemented. Advice on all those provisions coming into force on 1 April will be issued shortly before then, and further advice on the new grant system will be published well before 1 July.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the leaflet for the public on the new grants legislation will be available; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Chope

[holding answer 19 February 1990]: A new edition of "Housing Booklet 14" describing grants for the repair and improvement of private sector housing will be published before the new system is brought into force on 1 July 1990.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the prescribed form for application under the new grants system will be available.

Mr. Chope

[holding answer 19 February 1990]: We are still considering whether to prescribe an application form for the new grants system.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the regulations on the new test of resources for assessment of housing renovation grants will be issued; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Chope

[holding answer 19 February 1990]: Officials wrote to the local authority associations with a draft of the test of resources regulations on 19 January, and consultations are continuing. The regulations will be laid before Parliament as soon as possible after consultation has been completed, and will be issued to local authorities thereafter.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will delay the date of implementation of the new housing renovation grants system; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Chope

[holding answer 20 February 1990]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham).

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department intends to publish guidelines to parts VII and VIII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

Mr. Chope

[holding answer 15 February 1990]: I have announced today that part VII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 will be implemented on 1 April, and the new grant system in part VIII on 1 July. My Department will issue advice to local authorities in advance of those dates, as well as publishing a booklet for the general public on the new grant system.