§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will authorise local authorities to give grants for the re-wiring of old property unconnected with other improvement grants;
(2) if, for economic reasons, he is unable to allow grants for all old property, he will allow grants as a priority to all houses where retirement pensioners live, and to all those living in pre-1939 built dwellings.
§ Mr. Armstrong:I am aware of the need to renew obsolescent domestic electric wiring. In general, it does not seem unreasonable for private householders to undertake this task as part of the general responsibilities of home ownership without expecting the taxpayer to contribute and I have no present plans to introduce a general scheme of grant-aid for this purpose. I am prepared to give further consideration to the question of a more 61W limited scheme, for example, for particular categories of people with special needs.