§ Mr. Hancockasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what account is taken of the cost of removing asbestos from domestic heaters in the housing investment programme allocation to local authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungA detailed description of the methodology for making housing investment programme allocations for 1986–87 has been placed in the Library. A local authority stock condition indicator now represents 28 per cent. of the generalised needs index. The scores of individual authorities on that indicator reflect information about their expenditure needs supplied to my Department in the stock condition inquiry. The categories of works used in that inquiry included heating systems and asbestos treatment.
The Electricity Council has given guidance that storage heaters incorporating asbestos do not need to be replaced until the end of their useful life. Comprehensive guidance about domestic heaters will be included in the revised edition of my Department's booklet, "Asbestos materials in buildings."