§ 47. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of present Government restrictions on the amount which local authorities may spend on repair and improvement, he will take action to increase the amounts local authorities are permitted to spend on the thousands of older properties which they have purchased for letting and which at present remain empty and subject to vandalism for lack of repair.
§ Mr. FreesonAllocations to local authorities for 1977–78 in respect of the repair and improvement of dwellings they own take account so far as is possible of the need for works to older properties which they have purchased. New and more flexible arrangements are being 197W introduced which will permit authorities wider discretion in their programmes of acquisition, repair and improvement. These arrangements should help authorities to bring acquired properties into use, especially if they give priority to essential initial works.