§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he proposes to have on the housing needs of the elderly in Wales.
§ Mr. GristThe Department is currently consulting statutory and voluntary bodies on the future of home improvement agencies in Wales. The housing needs of elderly people will also be considered by Welsh district councils and officials in the context of authorities' housing strategies for 1991–92.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will call for a report from the chairman of Tai Cymru on its supervision of the financial affairs of Corlan Housing Association;
442W(2) when he expects to receive the report of the inquiry instituted under the Housing Association Act 1973 into the financial difficulties of Corlan Housing Association;
(3) if he will publish the report of the inquiry into the financial affairs of Corlan Housing Association; and if he will make a statement;
(4) whether he has any plans to issue new guidelines to Tai Cymru on the supervision of the financial affairs of Welsh housing associations.
§ Mr. GristUnder the Housing Associations Act 1985 Housing for Wales has various powers and responsibilities in respect of registered housing associations and under section 28 of the Act has instituted an inquiry into the affairs of Corlan Housing Association. A report is expected within about six weeks. Housing for Wales will then decide what further action needs to be taken in the light of the inquiry's findings. My right hon. Friend and I are, of course, in touch with the situation.
The board of Housing for Wales is already considering the wider implications of the situation and will be discussing these with me.
§ Mr. Roy HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what consideration he has given to the independent technical report prepared for Newport borough council by Ove Arup, consulting engineers, on the structural soundness of houses at Ringwood hill, Newport, Gwent;
(2) if he will vary or revoke the designation of properties at Ringwood hill, Newport, Gwent, as being defective within the terms of section 528 of the Housing Act 1985;
(3) if he will now reply to a letter dated 9 May from the hon. Member for Newport, East concerning the designation of houses at Ringwood hill, Newport, Gwent, as being defective within the terms of section 528 of the Housing Act 1985.
§ Mr. GristI have not received any recent correspondence from the hon. Gentleman about houses at Ringwood hill, Newport. However, we have very recently written to Newport borough council to say that my right hon. Friend is not prepared to revoke or vary the designation of Hawksley SGS houses under section 528 of the Housing Act 1985.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether the policy outlined in his reply of 11 June,Official Report, column 25, applies to properties owned by Douglas Haig Memorial Homes.
§ Mr. GristAs a landlord body, Douglas Haig Memorial Homes will be able to apply for financial assistance under the renovation grant being introduced from 1 July.