HC Deb 07 February 1989 vol 146 cc598-9W
Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many local authorities have Spooner style houses; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what representations his Department has received regarding Spooner houses; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Trippier

Eighteen local authorities in England have reported ownership of Spooner houses built between 1945 and 1951; and six have reported ownership of the later, and different, Spooner-Caspon house. My Department has received some inquiries about both house types, and has explained that on the evidence available, designation under the housing defects legislation is unlikely to be appropriate.

Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those types of properties covered by the Housing Defects Act.

Mr. Trippier

The following property types are designated nationally in England, under the housing defects legislation:

  • Airey
  • Boot
  • Boswell
  • Cornish Unit
  • Dorran
  • Dyke
  • Gergory
  • Myton
    • 599
  • Newland
  • Orlit
  • Parkinson
  • Reema Hollow Panel
  • Schindler and Hawksley SGS
  • Smith
  • Stent
  • Stonecrete
  • Tarran
  • Underdown
  • Unity and Butterley
  • Waller
  • Wates
  • Wessex
  • Winget
  • Woolaway

Local designations are in force for Smith-type houses with additional foundation defects at Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell and Nuneaton and Bedworth; and also for certain other properties in Dudley with a foundation defect.

Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those types of properties for which proposals for designation under the Housing Defects Act have been submitted but which have not been so designated.

Mr. Trippier

My Department receives various inquiries concerning designation under the housing defects legislation. Since 1984, formal requests for designation in England have been considered, but not accepted, in respect of the following types:

National designation:

  • Duo-Slab
  • Truscon RD27
  • Certain properties in West Bletchley (with "Finlock Gutters" etc.)

Local designation:

  • Bison (Hounslow and Reading)
  • "Cornes" properties (Congleton)
  • "Czechoslovakian" Timber properties (South Derbyshire)
  • Duo-Slab (Mark I and II) (Leeds)
  • Hawksley Aluminium Bungalows (Taunton)
  • Certain properties in Gillingham (plaster problems) Certain properties in Wolverhampton (foundation problems)