§ Mr. Arthur Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities are, to his knowledge, refusing to operate those sections of the Housing Act 1969 relating to discretionary grants as a means of discriminating against improvements in older houses by certain persons or bodies.
§ Mr. ChannonThe most recent count shows that less than 2 per cent. of local authorities do not make discretionary grants, but this information is some months out of date. A very small minority of local authorities do not make discretionary grants but I cannot state a figure. The numbers of these grants approved by individual local authorities is shown in "Local Housing Statistics", published quarterly.
§ Mr. Arthur Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware that certain local authorities have announced their intention of refusing to 399W allow standard grants to particular groups of persons, even where the statutory requirements are met; and what steps he is proposing to take to remedy this situation.
§ Mr. ChannonI have no evidence that local authorities are refusing to make standard grants, and I would be grateful for any information that my hon. Friend can send me on this point.