§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the measures which he has authorised since the beginning of the summer adjournment to bring about further improvement work on older houses.
§ Sir George YoungOn 7 September the Government announced that local authorities would in future be able to pay home improvement grants for the replacement of lead plumbing. On 5 October my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction announced that the maximum 90 per cent. rates for repairs and intermediate grants would be extended to applications made before the end of 1983–84. On 14 October local authorities in England were informed of their shares of the £79.3 million of extra resources made available for home improvement grants in 1982–83 by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Budget. On 21 October my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction announced that a system known as "enveloping", which involves improving the external condition of whole streets of privately owned housing at a time, would in future be a mainstream house improvement policy. On 27 October my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State advised authorities that they may further increase their expenditure on home improvement grants without limit in 1982–83, and without the need to submit prior application.