§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will make available grants to assist home owners in the Armley area of Leeds to remove from their homes the asbestos pollution from the former Roberts factory.
§ Mr. Baldry[holding answer 20 May 1992]: Under part VIII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, local authorities are able to give mandatory renovation grants for works to make a property fit for human habitation. This may cover asbestos removal where the presence of asbestos causes a dwelling to fail the fitness standard, for example, as a result of serious disrepair, structural instability or poor ventilation. In other circumstances, authorities may offer discretionary grants for asbestos removal where works are required to put a dwelling into reasonable repair, or in conjunction with other works.