HC Deb 29 March 1994 vol 240 cc655-6W
Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what funds have been made available to the Liverpool city council during the past financial year for the modernisation of homes under the provisions of the mandatory house improvement grant system; whether all available funds were claimed; and if he will make a statement.

Sir George Young

The level of resources dedicated to house renovation grants is a matter for Liverpool city council to decide within the framework of its capital programme and available resources. A guideline figure of £9.9 million was included in the housing investment programme allocation for 1993–94. Liverpool claimed a total grant expenditure of £13.846 million and a supplementary credit approval for £3.558 million was issued last December.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how management and maintenance cost assumptions are calculated for the purpose of allocating housing revenue account subsidies.

Sir George Young

[holding answer 28 March 1994]: Each housing authority is allocated an allowance for housing revenue account subsidy which reflects its relative need to spend on the management and maintenance of its dwellings. This allowance is based on the particular characteristics of the authority's stock, including the type, age and size of the dwellings, the proportion of flats to houses, the sparsity of the stock and its geographical location. Local authorities are consulted in advance about the details.

Mr. Jack Thompson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list local authority housing departments which have submitted successful housing investment programmes in 1991–92 and 1992–93.

Sir George Young

Under the housing investment programme process, all local housing authorities in England are invited each year to submit bids for capital resources for their housing programmes. Allocations are then announced in December. Lists showing the allocations for each authority in 1991–92 and 1992–93 are available from the Library of the House.

Mr. John Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce the allocation of resources to local authorities under his Department's housing partnership fund for 1994–95.

Sir George Young

A list of the resources being allocated to local authorities under the housing partnership fund for 1994–95 has been placed in the Library of the House.