§ Mr. Nellistasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his estimate of the number and percentage of houses in Coventry, the west midlands and nationally which require repairs costing more than £2,500;
(2) what is his estimate of the number and percentage of houses in Coventry, the west midlands and nationally which (a) lack basic amenities, such as hot and cold running water, (b) suffer from dampness, (c) suffer from poor drainage, and (d) suffer from inadequate daylight.
§ Sir George YoungInformation is not available in the precise form requested. Local authorities' 1984 housing investment programme returns included, for 1 April, their estimates of defective dwellings in their areas: the figures provided by Coventry and estimates for the West Midlands region and for England, including allowance for any missing returns, are as follows:
100W
Coventry West Midlands region England Substandard dwellings: unfit; 918 98,900 594,000 fit but lacking one or more basic amenities 5,879 78,900 637,000 Non-substandard dwellings in need of renovation† 14,091 275,500 2,282,000 * A dwelling is deemed to be unfit if it is not reasonably suitable for occupation because it is so far defective in one or more specified matters which include repair, freedom from damp, natural lighting and drainage and sanitary conveniences. † Requiring repairs of more than £3,000 (£4,200 in Greater London) at 1984 prices. Numbers reported by local authorities are not necessary comparable, as their criteria differ and in total they are not consistent with estimates from the English house condition survey of 1981.