HC Deb 21 April 1988 vol 131 c563W
Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what his Department assesses to be the latest amount needed on each Wimpey no-fines house, in the Blakenhall area of Walsall in order to bring such properties up to acceptable standards.

Mrs. Roe

[holding answer 18 April 1988]This is a matter for the local authority, rather than the Department.

Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the west midlands section of his Department will be willing to see a deputation of residents from the Wimpey no-fines properties in Walsall in order to discuss the present state of disrepair to these houses.

Mrs. Roe

[holding answer 18 April 1988]: The regional controller and other officials have already visited these houses. I do not feel that a further meeting would be useful. It is for Walsall metropolitan borough council to determine its own priorities for the repair and improvement of its own housing stock.

Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what latest information and consultations have taken place between his Department and the Walsall metropolitan borough council regarding the work needed to bring up to acceptable standards the Wimpey no-fines properties in the Blakenhall area of the borough.

Mrs. Roe

[holding answer 18 April 1988]: Officials of the Department discussed this with Walsall metropolitan borough council at the housing investment programme meeting on 16 September 1987. The council also submitted a written bid to the Department in January 1988 for estate action support in 1988–89 for the Blakenhall area, but this was not accepted, for the reasons given in my reply of 18 April to the hon. Member at column 307.

Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the dangers to residents of the present state of disrepair in the Wimpey no-fines properties in the Blakenhall area of Walsall.

Mrs. Roe

[holding answer 18 April 1988]: Responsibility for the health and safety of tenants lies with the local authority, both as landlord and through their other statutory powers and responsibilities.