Housing Defects (Hansard, 10 April 1987)

§ Mr. Woodcock
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to increase the funds available to local authorities to implement the provisions of the Housing Defects Act; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. John Patten
The Department is currently considering bids for additional resources from authorities which consider they will have particularly high expenditure on obligations under the housing defects legislation in 1987–88, in relation to the size of their capital programme. Decisions about additional allocations will be announced shortly.

§ Mr. Woodcock
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has of local authorities deliberately delaying their implementation of the provisions of the Housing Defects Act.

§ Mr. John Patten
Local authorities are responsible for implementing the scheme of assistance, in accordance with the provisions of the housing defects legislation. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on particular cases; but we do look to all authorities to implement the Act in a reasonable fashion.

§ Mr. Woodcock
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has of contractors withdrawing from work on the reinstatement of prefabricated reinforced concrete houses.

§ Mr. John Patten
The National House Building Council is making very good progress with approved repair methods for various types of designated PRC properties and repair works are now getting under way in many parts of the country. We have no evidence of contractors wishing to withdraw from this work.

§ Mr. Woodcock
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of protracted delays experienced by private owners of prefabricated reinforced concrete houses in effecting reinstatement of their homes, he will review the implementation of the Housing Defects Act.

§ Mr. John Patten
Repairs arc now progressing in many parts of the country. Under the terms of the designations owners do still have over seven years in which to seek and obtain assistance; it can he helpful for authorities and owners to reach an understanding on a likely timetable for assistance. My Department is continuing to monitor progress but we have no current plans to amend the legislation.