§ 56. Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the policy of the Government towards environmental improvement in the public housing sector.
§ Mr. RipponThe Government have taken positive steps to encourage the environmental improvement of public housing estates to good modern standards. Under the Housing Finance Act 1972, reasonable maintenance and environmental improvement works to council housing property can qualify as reckonable expenditure for rising costs subsidy.
350WOlder council houses within general improvement areas can benefit in the normal way from the contribution paid by the Government towards the cost of environmental works, based on a figure of £200 per house.