House Improvement and Conversion

HC Deb 04 March 1976 vol 906 cc678-80W

Mr. George Grant

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce the authorities who will share the £4–5 million additional allocation to the Northern Region for public sector house improvement work.

Mr. Armstrong

The proposed allocations for the Northern Region, which in total include a small reserve held back from the earier regional allocation, are as follows:

	£
Newcastle	200,000
Gateshead	200,000
Sunderland	200,000
North Tyneside	200,000
South Tyneside	200,000
Hartlepool	100,000
Stockton	200,000
Middlesborough	100,000
Langbaurgh	75,000
Carlisle	250,000
Allerdale	100,000
Eden	50,000
Copeland	200,000
South Lakeland	50,000
Barrow-in-Furness	75,000
Derwentside	400,000
Chester Le Street	200,000
Wear Valley	250,000
Durham	300,000
Easington	300,000
Sedgefield	300,000
Darlington	400,000
Alnwick	50,000
Tynedale	50,000
Castle Morpeth	50,000
Wansbeck	100,000
Blyth Valley	300,000

Mr. George Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what amounts have been included in the figures in Table 2.7 of Command Paper No. 6393 for expenditure on improvement of local authority and new town dwellings in (a) England and Wales, and (b) Scotland; and of which figures in the table such amounts form part.

Mr. Freeson

Expenditure on improvement of dwellings owned by local authorities, new towns and the Scottish Special Housing Association is included in the line of Table 2.7 entitled "Local authority improvement investment". The amounts for (a) England and Wales, and (b) Scotland are as follows:

	£m. at 1975 Survey Prices
	England and Wales	Scotland
1970–71	102.7	8.1
1971–72	193.4	16.7
1972–73	327.8	32.9
1973–74	429.5	76.1
1974–75	393.6	77.9
1975–76	300.7	88.4
1976–77	297.0	77.3
1977–78	202.8	69.4
1978–79	196.7	60.8
1979–80	196.5	60.8

Mr. Graham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will increase the rateable value limits for improvement grants for conversion schemes.

Mr. Crosland

Yes. I and my right hon. and learned friend the Secretary of State for Wales have decided to increase the rateable value limits for improvement grants for conversion schemes where the owner will continue to reside on the premises. The new limits will be £600 in Greater London and £350 elsewhere in England and Wales. This measure will help to make better use of our housing stock by encouraging the conversion of large owner-occupied but underused homes. The necessary order will be laid before the House shortly.