HC Deb 04 June 1980 vol 985 cc752-3W
41. Mr. Winnick

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further representation he has now received from local authorities regarding the housing investment programme for 1980–81.

Mr. Stanley

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Allaun) on Friday 23 May 1980.—[Vol. 985, c. 425–26.]

Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what calculation his Department has made of the effect of the housing investment programme allocations in England and Wales on the improvement and modernisation of dwellings in the public sector and the private sector, respectively.

Mr. Stanley

Since allocations are now made as a single block, the extent to which local authorities use their housing investment programme allocations for the improvement of their own dwellings and to aid improvement by private persons is a matter for individual authorities to decide. However, the allocation in a single block, together with the improvement for sale scheme which I announced in Standing Committee on 15 April, the increase in eligible expense limits and the proposals for operating the new improvement provisions of the Housing Bill which I announced on 23 April, should enable the maximum benefit to be obtained from the resources which local authorities devote to improvement work.—[Vol. 984, c. 188–89.]