§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider allowing housing associations and local authorities to help elderly owner-occupiers by carrying out full works using improvement grants for the care and repair of a home for the occupier's lifetime.
§ Sir George YoungMy Department has recently undertaken research into the valuable work being done by agency services in encouraging takeup of improvement grant and particularly in providing assistance to the elderly. I am now considering how best to assist further developments in this field. Any direct involvement of registered housing associations would, however, involve legislation.