§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what grants are currently available for the conversion into dwelling houses of shops which are no longer financially viable; and if he will make a statement. [9870]
§ Mr. HagueDistrict councils may give discretionary home renovation grants to convert buildings, including shops, into dwellings. Over the past five years we have made available £20.5 million which has created more than 1,300 such dwellings. For 1996–97 councils can support such grants from the £179.6 million I have made available to them for home renovation.