§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what support his Department is giving to the city of Salford and the residents of the city of Salford for improved measures for insulating the homes of the elderly; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungThe elderly on low incomes are eligible under the homes insulation scheme for 90 per cent. grants—up to a maximum of £90—towards the cost of loft insulation and the associated lagging of tanks and pipes. From 1 May the thicknesses of loft insulation materials required for grant are to be increased. This grant maximum is to be raised to £95 by negative order to be laid before the House.
The city of Salford, along with all other local housing authorities, has already been given an allocation from the £27.85 million made available for grants in England in 1982–83. An extra £7.5 million is now to be made available, the two amounts together representing an increase of over 30 per cent. in real terms over 1981–82. Local authorities, including Salford, have been invited to submit up-to-date details of the demand for grants in their areas so that the additional funds can be allocated where they will have the most impact.