§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will help pensioners in particular by extending repair and improvement grants to include simpler repairs, such as rewiring on its own; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungLocal authorities have considerable scope to grant-aid simpler repairs undertaken as part of improvement works, or in association with the installation of standard amenities. The Government have encouraged authorities to use this flexibility, particularly in the case of elderly applicants. Authorities may also grant-aid rewiring alone, if this would bring a dwelling up to the overall standard generally required of dwellings which have benefited from an improvement grant—colloquially known as the 30-year 10-point standard.