HC Deb 12 February 1996 vol 271 cc399-400W
Sir Andrew Bowden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) pensioner households, (b) men aged over 65 years and (c) women aged over 60 years received a house renovation grant in the latest year for which figures are available. [13783]

Mr. Curry

The Department does not routinely collect information on the age and sex of applicants whose grant application is approved by local housing authorities. Reseach commissioned by the Department estimated, from data collected during 1990–91, the percentage of approvals in England for each type of grant under the current renovation grant system where the applicant was aged 60 or over. Applying these percentages would provide the following estimates for England in 1994, the last calendar year for which data are available:

Estimates of approvals to applicants aged 60 or over
Type of grant All approvals (mandatory and discretionary) Number (000s) Percentage Number (000s)
Renovation 40.3 48 19.3
Disabled facilties 23.7 71 16.8
Minor works assistance 32.5 88 28.6

Research data are not available for common parts grants and HMSO grants; the latter is provided to landlords only.

Sir Andrew Bowden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many pensioner households, men aged over 65 years and women aged over 60 years are currently on the house renovation grant waiting list. [13784]

Mr. Curry

No information is available. The Department does not routinely collect information from local authorities on the status of grant inquiries received by it.