§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will amend publicity issued by his Department in respect of housing renovation grants to make it clear that the mandatory rights of owners to receive grants are subject to the availability of resources in the local authority; and if he will make statement.
§ Sir George YoungNo. Under part VIII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 a local authority must approve a grant application for works to make a property fit for human habitation or for works to comply with a statutory notice. There is no provision under the Act to make such grants subject to resource availability.
§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what decision he has made in respect of the application by Blackburn borough council for supplementary credit approval for mandatory renovation grants.
§ Sir George YoungBlackburn's application is currently being considered along with the bids received from other local housing authorities. Decisions on these will be announced shortly.