§ 41. Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will communicate with all appropriate local authorities seeking their comments on the operation at local level of the improvement grant system.
§ Mr. EyreNo. Local authorities were asked as recently as last May in circular 50/72 to inform my hon. Friend at any time of their suggestions for removing constraints on action and for improving procedures for dealing with older housing in their districts.
§ 76. Mr. Milneasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will institute an immediate inquiry into the allocation of discretionary improvement grants in regard to the Northern Region and the county as a whole.
§ Mr. ChannonNo, Sir. The approval of grants is a matter for individual local authorities in the light of their housing needs and conditions. They are in the best position to judge whether a grant should be given in any particular case.
§ Mr. Douglas-Mannasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a further statement concerning 120W the working of the system of improvement grants under the Housing Act, 1969.
§ Mr. ChannonThere is nothing I can add at this stage to my right hon. Friend's speech during the recent debate on the Address in which he referred to the enormous impact of improvement grants in many parts of the country and estimated that this year nearly 300,000 old houses would be improved.