HC Deb 21 May 1984 vol 60 cc313-4W
Mrs. Clwyd

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, in view of the fact that Cynon Valley has approximately three times the national average of homes without inside toilets and bathrooms, if he is prepared to grant a special allocation of money.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

In both 1982–83 and 1983–84 open-ended arrangements for grant finance were available to all

Welsh local authorities. Capital allocations were thus not an inhibiting factor. In any case, intermediate grants (which are specifically designed to assist in the provision of basic amenities) are mandatory and it is therefore all the more extraordinary that Cynon Valley approved only 108 intermediate grants during the past two years and only 20 during the whole of the previous 3 years.

Mrs. Clwyd

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of the present allocations for housing purposes given by his Department to Cynon Valley borough council.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

The housing element of Cynon Valley borough council's capital allocation for 1984–85 is £3.09 million.

Mrs. Clwyd

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of the number of applications from the area of Cynon Valley for housing improvement grant.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

From the introduction of enhanced rate grants on 9 March 1982 to the 31 March 1984, there were 5,351 applications for housing renovation grants (including improvement, conversion, intermediate, repair and special grants) in the Cynon Valley area.