§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will extend to the occupants of rented wheelchair housing owned by charitable housing associations the right to qualify for a transferable discount; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TraceyTransferable discounts were provided to help certain housing association tenants who would have had the right to buy were their landlord not a charity. Wheelchair housing is exempt from the right to buy and hence excluded from the discount scheme.
313W
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many units of wheelchair housing have been constructed by local authorities and by housing associations in England in each of the last five years; and, of these, how many have contained two or more bedrooms;
(2) how many units of mobility housing have been constructed by local authorities and by housing associations in Eengland in each of the last five years; and, of these, how many have contained two or more bedrooms.
§ Mr. TraceyCompletions of wheelchair (previously referred to as "specially designed") dwellings and of mobility dwellings in the years up to 1985 appear in table 6.7(b) of "Housing and Construction Statistics, 1975–1985" and provisional figures of the first three quarters of 1986 in table 1.6(b) of the quarterly "Housing and Construction Statistics" No. 27. Copies are in the Library.
Information on the numbers of bedrooms in those dwellings is not collected by the Department.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many improvement grants have been made for the adaptation of houses to meet the needs of disabled people in each of the last five years; and what has been the value of these;
(2) how many intermediate grants have been made for the adaptation of houses to meet the needs of disabled people in each of the last five years; and what has been the value of these.
§ Mr. TraceyThe number of improvement and intermediate grants paid and the amounts paid in the years up to 1984 appear in table 7.5(a) of "Housing and Construction Statistics, 1975–1985" and the 1985 figures and provisional figures of the first three quarters of 1986 are in table 2.17(a) of "Housing and Construction Statistics" No. 27. Copies are available in the Library.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the eligible expense limit for 314W improvement grants for adaptation of houses to meet the needs of disabled people; how long it has been at this level; and if he has any plans to increase it.
§ Mr. TraceyThe limits were set in May 1983 and are £13,800 in Greater London and £10,200 elsewhere. There is no evidence that they are causing serious difficulties and there are at present no plans to increase them. However, it is open to local authorities to apply to the Department for approval of a higher eligible expense limit, if there are exceptional reasons.