HC Deb 16 December 1969 vol 793 cc271-3W
77. Mr. Prentice

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what further consideration he is giving to relieving local authorities of a greater share of the cost of strengthening tower blocks of the Ronan Point variety; and if he will make a statement.

82. Mr. Gregory

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what further consideration he has given towards relieving the County Borough of Stockport of the burden of costs imposed by the strengthening and remedial works, and resultant delays on the Jespersen 12M type flats at Lancashire Hill; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeson

My right hon. Friend is still considering all the representations submitted to him both by the local authority associations and by individual authorities. He hopes to reach a decision shortly.

78. Mr. Prentice

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will publish a list of local authorities which are responsible for tower blocks of the Ronan Point variety, with details of the number of tower blocks in each authority's area and the estimated cost to the ratepayers of strengthening these buildings.

81. Mr. Gregory

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which local authorities in the West Pennine Group of authorities are responsible for tower blocks of the Ronan Point type; how many blocks in each of the authorities are subject to required strengthening and remedial work; and what is the estimated cost to the ratepayers concerned for such works on these buildings.

Mr. Freeson

This comprehensive information is not yet available—it involves detailed structural surveys by 110 local authorities in England—but I hope that its collation will not be long delayed. In Newham's case, I estimate that loan charges on the estimated cost of strengthening high blocks, after allowing for capital grants from the Exchequer at the rate of 40 per cent., would be just over the product of a penny rate.

80. Mr. Oram

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what recent communications he has received from organisations in the London Borough of Newham about the financial responsibility for strengthening tower blocks of flats; and what reply he has sent.

Mr. Freeson

The Department has received a letter from the West Ham Trades Council. The reply indicated that my right hon. Friend has offered a grant of 40 per cent. towards expenditure on strengthening, and that he is now considering representations for a higher rate of grant.

87. Mr. Oram

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to ensure that consultants and contractors advising local authorities on the erection of tower blocks of flats take into account all the risks revealed by the Ronan Point disaster, and that they accept financial responsibility in cases where they have not done so.

Mr. Freeson

My right hon. Friend has already given advice in Circular 62/68 about the standards to which new buildings should be designed. He hopes to publish amended Building Regulations early in the New Year. Any error by a contractor or consultant would he a matter for the local authority to pursue by legal action in the light of any safeguard which may by agreement be included in the building contract, and local authorities will no doubt study contracts very carefully in this context.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now make a further statement on all matters pertaining to the Ronan Point disaster, in the light of his recent discussions with the local authorities concerned.

Mr. Freeson

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave today to Questions from my right hon. Friend the Member for East Ham, North (Mr. Prentice) and my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport, North (Mr. Gregory).

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give an assurance that, in any financial arrangement with the authorities concerned over the Ronan Point disaster, no settlement will be arrived at which will impose any additional burdens upon the tenants of the tower blocks or the ratepayers in the London Borough of Newham.

Mr. Freeson

My right hon. Friend does not consider there are any grounds for the Government meeting the total cost of remedial measures. The way in which any residual costs after grant are met will be a matter for each local authority to decide.