§ Mr. Joseph Deanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the protests that have been made to him by local authorities concerning the cut in their proposed expenditure on works of improvement to their housing stock, and the implications this will have on employment within the building industry in the conurbations, he will agree to receive a deputation from the local authority associations.
§ Mr. Tierneyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from local authorities and other organisations concerning his recently announced cuts in the rehabilitation and improvement in housing under Section 105 of the 1974 Act; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreesonMany local authorities and other bodies have made representations to my right hon. Friend about constraint on rehabilitation expenditure under Section 105 of the Housing Act 1974. In view of the Financial limitations there are on the total volume of improvements the social priorities inherent in the Labour Government's policy compel us to redirect resources to where they are needed most. The general principle behind the Section 105 allocations is progressively to redirect available resources away from the improvement of those purpose-built council dwellings already up to sound amenity standards, on which a disproportionate amount has been spent in recent years, towards tackling dwellings without standard amenities or in serious disrepair. especially those purchased from private owners as part of the programme of social ownership. I have discussed the issue with the LBA and the GI C on 21st March, and in response to their request have agreed to meet the AMA.
§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the breakdown between improvement expenditure on council property of long standing and improvement expenditure on recently acquired council property in the total 93W amount of improvement expenditure authorised for 1975–76.
§ Mr. FreesonPrecise estimates cannot be made, but about 76 per cent.:4 the allocations made to English local authorities under Section 105 of the Housing Act 1974 inevitably related to expenditure arising from contracts let before 1st April 1975, most of which are for work to purpose-built council estates. The Government's intention is progressively to switch resources to the improvement of dwellings in the worst condition, particularly those purchased by local authorities from private owners under programmes of social ownership.
§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total value of bids made by local authorities in England and Wales for expenditure in 1975–76 under Section 105 of the Housing Act 1974; what was the total amount authorised; and how much of this represented expenditure in respect of which contracts had been let by local authorities.
§ Mr. FreesonThe total value of bids by English local authorities for 1975–76 was £572 million. The total amount currently authorised for spending under this programme is £271.5 million, of which approximately £205.5 million relates to expenditure in respect of contracts already let by local authorities.
§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the bids made by each local authority in England and Wales for expenditure in 1975–76 under Section 105 of the Housing Act 1974, and the amount authorised in each case.
§ Mr. FreesonYes, as soon as possible.
§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the highest percentage cut and what was the lowest percentage cut as between a local authority's application for expenditure under Section 105 of the Housing Act 1974 and the amount authorised; what was the highest and lowest cut expressed as a percentage of uncontracted expenditure only; and what criteria determined the variations in these percentages.
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§ Mr. FreesonI will write to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether local authorities were invited, when making application for authorisation of expenditure under Section 105 of the Housing Act 1974, to differentiate between improvement expenditure on council property of long standing and newly acquired council properties.
§ Mr. FreesonYes.