§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
(i) Whether they will confirm that Liverpool has 25,000 pre-war dwellings, of which 10,000 need modernisation but none is being modernised; Birmingham has 42,000 such dwellings, of which 25,000 need modernising and the current modernisation programme is 40 per year; and that Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield will take 40, 37 and 18 years respectively to modernise their pre-war houses at current rates of progress; and (ii) what steps they are taking to accelerate these programmes.
§ Lord SkelmersdaleI understand that these figures are taken from the Association of Metropolitan Authorities' report—Defects in Housing Part 3: Repair and Modernisation of Traditional Built Dwellings. The department is unable to confirm them.
It is for local authorities themselves to determine their priorities for investment within the overall resources available to them. The Government are currently asking all housing authorities in England to provide further details of their stock and the expenditure that they estimate is required on its renovation and repair. The returns, which are due by 31st May, will help us to make a better assessment of the resources needed by local authorities for this purpose.