§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if, in the light of the fact that the West Lancashire District Council has had to defer several house modernisation schemes and covers an area of high unemployment, he will allocate some of the additional £50 million for public sector house improvement to the council;
(2) if, in the light of the high unemployment in Kirkby, and the number of houses requiring repair, he will ensure that a substantial proportion of the £50 million allocated to public sector house improvement will be allocated to Knowsley Borough Council.
§ Mr. Muddasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what sums for 880W council house repairs will be made available, respectively, to Kerrier, Carrick, and Penwith District Councils within the £50 million disclosed by his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12th February.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much of the money, announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Thursday 12th February to be spent on improving old council houses, will be allocated to each local authority within the Greater Manchester area.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether in view of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement on reducing unemployment in rural areas and stimulating demand in the construction industry, he will now agree to the request of Bassetlaw District Council for more funds for council house improvements.
§ Mr. Peter Walkerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how the additional provision for public sector house improvement work announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12th February will be allocated between the regions of England, Wales and Scotland.
§ Mr. George Grantasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he will use to disburse the £50 million for improvement of Public sector housing announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12th February 1976; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreesonI am today announcing the regional allocations as set out in the table below. Decisions as to particular authorities will follow in the next few days.
£m English Regions (outturn prices) London 15.0 South-East 2.5 East 0.5 West Midlands 4.5 East Midlands 1.0 North-West 8.0 Yorks & Humberside 4.0 Northern 4.5 South-West 3.0 Scotland 6.0 Wales 4.0 I am also allocating an additional £5 million for improvement work by housing associations in England. The new 881W allocations for England include a small reserve which was held back when the original allocations were made, pending a closer examination of needs in different areas.
In making the apportionment between the English regions I have sought to achieve the maximum social and economic benefit from relief of unemployment in the construction industry coupled with an improvement in housing conditions.
The allocation of the provisions for Scotland and Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.