§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will issue a circular to local authorities in Wales directing them not to withhold an improvement grant from any property purely on the grounds that it is a leasehold property.
§ Mr. Alec Jones:Section 57(3) of the Housing Act 1974 states that improvement grants may be paid in respect of a leasehold property only if the lease has an unexpired term of five years or more. Subject to this condition, and to applications being valid in all other respects, local authorities have a duty to pay intermediate grants and a discretion to pay other forms of improvement grants in respect of leasehold properties. I am not aware of any difficulties which would warrant the issue of a circular.