§ 66. Mr. Milneasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance has been given to local authorities under the Housing Act, 1969 in the Blyth constituency and the Northern Region; and what will be the effect in terms of housing development during the next five years.
§ Mr. Channon527 grants have been approved under the Housing Act, 1969 for the improvement of local authority dwellings in the Blyth constituency. The estimated cost of the works to be carried out is £422,000 of which 50 per cent. will be met by the Exchequer. The corresponding figures for Northern Region are 5,966 grants and £3,040,000. I am hoping to see an appreciably larger number of grants made over the next five years not only in the public sector but to private owners also where there has been a really encouraging increase in the numbers already. More, however, must be done to improve older property and at the same time get rid of slums.