§ Mr. Arnold Shawasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to monitor the effects of the guidance he issued to housing authorities in February 1975 encouraging them to increase their supply of units of accommodation for single-person and small households; and what information he can now provide to indicate the current response of local housing authorities to this guidance.
§ Mr. FreesonReturns of the numbers of dwellings provided specifically for single people and smaller households form part of the regular monitoring arrangements for the house-building programme. The planning and implementation of new housing schemes is a relatively lengthy process and it will take time before the full response of authorities to the new initiatives set out in Circular 24/75 becomes evident. In the meantime, there has been a small increase in the number of one-, two- and three-person dwellings receiving housing cost yardstick approval over the last year.