§ Mr. Pikeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he is taking to promote home improvement and repairs in the north-west region; and how much is planned to be spent in 1986–87 and 1987–88 on this purpose.
§ Mr. TraceyIt is for local authorities to decide how much to spend on home improvement and repair from within the resources available to them. The total housing investment programme allocations to authorities in the north-west region, including Merseyside, were £205.47 million for 1986–87 and are £194.29 million for 1987.88. A number of authorities in the north-west have also received additional allocations from the resources set aside specifically for estate action schemes.
In addition, both Care and Repair Ltd. and the National Home Improvement Council's neighbourhood revitalisation services intend to establish agency services in the north-west, to provide practical help with repairs and improvements, as part of the initiative announced by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing, Urban Affairs and Construction last November. Care and Repair schemes are about to start in Liverpool and Wigan, and NRS discussing with the local authority the possibility of establishing a scheme in Hyndburn.