§ Mr. Nelsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he is giving to local authorities on the payment of reinstatement grants for the repair of Orlit houses without their being approved under the method of repair scheme being discussed between his Department, the National Housing Building Council and the Building Societies Association.
§ Mr. GowBefore local authorities can give a reinstatement grant for the repair of any type of house designated under the Housing Defects Act, they must be satisfied, among other things, that the repaired house would be likely to be mortgageable in the private sector. The scheme arranged by the National House Building Council is intended to provide an assurance that building societies will be prepared to lend, subject to their usual conditions, on houses repaired according to methods approved under that scheme. But there is nothing to prevent an authority seeking similar assurance from private sector lending institutions direct, in respect of any method of repair.