§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many estates in the greater Manchester area have been designated as disproportionately expensive to heat for the purposes of estate rate heating additions since the matter was first raised with his Department by the right hon. Member for Manchester, 57W Wythenshawe; how many files relating to estates in the area that might be so designated are currently under consideration centrally; if he will name the estates; and when he now expects further decisions to be made.
§ Dr. BoysonCertificates of designation issued in respect of estate rate heating additions relate not to individual estates, but to heating systems which can cover all or part of one or several estates. Since the right hon. Member raised the matter with me on 6 December 1983, a total of nine certificates have been issued for addresses served by DHSS local offices in greater Manchester. In addition a number of applications for designation have been refused.
A further nine lists of addresses are now being considered for designation. Information on the names of the estates involved is not readily available, for the reasons set out above, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Decisions outstanding on applications for designation will be taken as soon as possible.