Mr. Michael Forsythasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate (a) the number of applications for improvement grants under the 90 per cent. scheme which had been lodged before the recent announcement of the termination of the scheme on 31 March 1984 but had not been approved and (b) the amount already committed under 90 per cent. improvement grants; and what that amount was likely to have been by 31 March 1984.
Mr. AncramNo information is readily available on numbers of grant applications received and awaiting consideration. Local authorities' current commitments in respect of improvement and repairs grants approved but not paid as at 20 October 1983 are estimated to total £178 million.
Mr. Michael Forsythasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the normal average of improvement grants approved in any year but not claimed until the next or subsequent years, expressed as a percentage of total grants approved.
Mr. AncramI regret that the information requested is not readily available for any past year. Numbers of grant claims carried forward in particular years could be calculated from local authority returns only at disproportionate cost.