§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will issue guidance to district councils in Wales not to refuse to accept applications for housing renovation grants between now and 31 March, notwithstanding the embargo on entering contractual financial commitments which was placed on these authorities by the Welsh Office in December 1983.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsI have already made it clear to the few authorities who have been refusing to accept applications that they could find their policy challenged in the courts.
There is no embargo. The request made to local authorities not to enter into contractual commitments applies to expenditure in the present financial year.