Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many council houses have been improved under the housing improvement policy in each housing authority area in Wales during each year for the past four years or other convenient period;
(2) what proportion of the housing stock owned by each local housing authority in Wales has been improved under the housing improvement policy.
§ Mr. John MorrisThe numbers of dwellings for which an Exchequer contribution was approved towards conversion or improvement in the years 1972, 1973 and 1974 are 6,518, 7,892 and 3,841 respectively.
In 1975, the system of subsidising local authority improvement work changed in accordance with the provisions of the Housing Rents and Subsidies Act 1975, and information for that year is not comparable.
For 1972, 1973 and 1974, the approvals represent percentages of approximately 2–3 per cent., 2.8 per cent. and 1.3 per cent. respectively of the total local authority stock.
Details of approvals by authorities are given in the quarterly publication "Local Housing Statistics", copies of which are in the Library. The relevant volume and table numbers are:
- 1972 No. 26 Table 9
- 1973 No. 30 Table 9
- 1974 No. 33 Table 9
- 1975 No. 37 Table 9
To work out the proportion of stock improved for each local authority would involve a disproportionate effort.
Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average cost of improvements per house carried out by each local housing authority in Wales under the housing improvement 181W policy during each of the past four years or other convenient period.
§ Mr. John MorrisInformation is not available on the average cost of improvement works, but the average amounts of Exchequer contributions approved for conversion or improvement in Wales are as follows:
Figures for 1975 are not yet available.
1972 1973 1974 £1,233 £1,802 £1,511 It would involve a disproportionate effort to calculate similar figures for each individual authority.