§ Mrs. Faithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet reached a decision on the matter of provision of lifts in two-storey blocks of public sector sheltered dwellings for elderly people.
§ Mr. StanleyAt present, housing authorities are required to provide lifts to serve old persons' sheltered dwellings—category 2 dwellings—of three storeys or more. But if authorities decide to provide lifts for dwellings of only two storeys where the residents still have to climb one flight of stairs, the cost up to now has not been admissible for subsidy.
Many frail elderly people find one flight of stairs difficult, and I have decided that the reasonable cost of providing a lift will in future be admissible for subsidy. My Department will make an appropriate addition to the yardstick for the scheme. Authorities will continue to have discretion as to whether to provide lifts in two-storey category 2 dwellings.
I am also making an increase of six percentage points in the housing cost yardstick for all public sector house building. The increase to be applied to the level set in March 1978 now moves from 35 per cent. to 41 per cent.
Both changes apply to schemes for which tenders are accepted on or after 1 April. A circular is being issued to local authorities to inform them of the new arrangements.