§ 19. Mr. LofthouseTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals to offer assistance to those people who purchased houses which since purchase have proved defective; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerEligible owners of designated defective properties are entitled to assistance from their local authority under the housing defects legislation.
§ 92. Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to provide additional resources for the repair and maintenance of defective houses; and if he will make a statement.
738Wadministration of the community charge; and what representations he has received on this subject from the Association of District Councils.
§ Mr. David HuntThe cost of collecting the community charge, as indicated by an independent study, has been taken into account in the revenue support grant settlement. The Association of District Councils has made a number of representations on these costs.
§ Sir John StanleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state in relation to each district and borough council in Kent by what percentage its 1990–91 standard spending assessment represents an increase or decrease from the comparable adjusted figure for the 1989–90 grant-related expenditure assessment.
§ Mr. David Hunt[holding answer 22 January 1990]The figures requested are shown in the table:
§ Mr. ChopeThe housing investment programme (HIP) allocations for 1990–91, announced by my right hon. Friend on 21 December 1989, took account of the total needs of local authorities for housing expenditure, including the need for expenditure on housing defects. We do not propose to make any additional allocations.