§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what grant he is making per house to local authorities towards the rehousing of families residing in Airey houses (a) as an average nationally and (b) to the East Staffordshire district council.
§ Sir George YoungMeaningful figures on the lines sought are not available. Under the scheme of assistance250W for private owners of Airey houses, which is voluntary, the Secretary of State normally meets 100 per cent. of the local authority's grant or, in the case of repurchase, of expenditure in excess of the defective value of the dwelling. The maximum limit for expenditure eligible for grant is, outside London, £10,500. Expenditure on repairing or replacing Airey houses owned by the local authority is admissible for the purpose of calculating the authority's entitlement to housing subsidy. The housing investment programme allocations of authorities are decided in the light, inter alia, of the need for expenditure on the repair and maintenance of Airey houses.