HC Deb 07 February 1983 vol 36 cc267-8W
17. Mr. Delwyn Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is satisfied that Welsh local authorities are taking all appropriate steps to implement the enhanced house renovation grant provisions which the Government has made available to them and to deal with the consequent demand.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

The majority of local authorities in Wales are seeking to take advantage of the Government's enhanced grant levels and the greater financial flexibility which we have made available. In the first six months of this financial year they dealt with over 10,000 applications, compared with 8,000 in the whole of 1981. However, seven authorities continue to apply restrictions on discretionary grants thus denying their ratepayers the full benefits of the Government's measures, and some authorities are allowing a wholly unacceptable backlog of applications to build up.