§ Mr. Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many district councils in Scotland had to cease processing new applications for home improvement grants following the Departmental letter of 19 October 1983.
§ Mr. YoungerI refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to his question of 8 December 1983 at82W column 254. Some authorities which deferred consideration of applications pending information about their resource allocations for 1984–85 will have resumed this process since provisional allocations were given to them on 15 December 1983.
§ Mr. Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from local authorities alleging inadequacy in the provisional allocations for home improvement grants; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YoungerI have received representations from 22 housing authorities since 15 December about the adequacy of the provisional allocations for their non-housing revenue accounts, which relate inter alia to expenditure on home improvement and repairs grants. A total of £160 million has been made available for this block in the next financial year, thus allowing work to continue at what is by any historic comparison a very high level indeed.