§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account is taken in determining the housing investment programme allocation of the west midlands region, of the number of unsatisfactory houses in multiple occupation and unfit owner-occupied properties.
§ Mr. BaldrySpecified capital grant (SCG) resources for private sector renewal in local authority housing investment programmes (HIPs) are allocated to the west midlands and other regions using a formula based on the numbers of private dwellings classified as unfit or lacking basic amenities. These dwellings include both houses in multiple occupation and owner-occupied properties. Forty per cent. of SCG resources at regional level are then652W distributed to individual local authorities within the region using the same measures, with the remaining 60 per cent. of resources allocated at Ministers' discretion.
§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is(a) the number and (b) the proportion of (i) houses in multiple occupation and (ii) single household homes in England lacking adequate fire precautions or means of escape in case of fire.
§ Mr. BaldryThe information is not available.
§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total of capital and revenue expenditure by local authorities in England in respect of dealing with unsatisfactory houses in multiple occupation in 1991–92.
§ Mr. BaldryIn 1991–92 a total of £6.7 million was approved by local housing authorities in England for capital expenditure on mandatory grants for houses in multiple occupation (HMO), and £0.3 million on discretionary HMO grants. Figures for revenue expenditure incurred by local authorities in dealing with HMOs are not available.
§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what effect the existence of mandatory housing in multiple occupation grants has had on 653W improving conditions within multi-occupied houses and on the activities of local authorities in respect of the implementation of part XI of the Housing Act 1985.
§ Mr. BaldryGrants for houses in multiple occupation (HMO) are mandatory where a statutory notice has been served. Since the new grant system was introduced in July 1990, mandatory grants for repairs and improvements to more than 1,750 HMOs at a total cost of £13.6 million have been approved by local authorities.
§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the number of houses in multiple occupation in the west midland region; and how many of these are below the standards set out in the Department of the Environment circular 12/92;
(2) how many people are currently living in houses in multiple occupation in England;
(3) how many houses in multiple occupation there were in England (a) in 1984–85 and (b) at the last date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. BaldryThe results of the 1991 Census, which provides information on the total number of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), are not yet fully available. However, based on the 1981 Census results, the number of HMOs in the West Midlands is estimated at 5,250. This covers the counties of Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Hereford and Worcester and the Birmingham conurbation. Information is not held centrally on the numbers which are below the standards set out in circular 12/92.
There are no reliable figures for the total number of HMOs or for the total number of people living in HMOs. Research carried out for the Department showed that in 1983–84, local authorities in England and Wales estimated that there were approximately 300,000 HMOs. Figures from the 1991 census show that there were 59,000 "shared dwellings" in England and Wales.
As for the number of HMO residents, research carried out for the Department in the mid-1980s produced estimates of between 1.25 and 2.6 million in England and Wales.
More up-to-date figures on the number of HMOs and the number of HMO residents will be available from the 1991 English House Condition Survey, to be published later in 1993. Figures from the 1991 census on the number of HMO residents will be available in due course.
§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many notices were served by local authorities in England in the 12 months to June 1992 under sections 352, 358 and 372 of the Housing Act 1985; how many directions under section 354 were made in that period; how many of these notices were complied with; in how many cases local authorities carried out work in default of compliance with the notices; and how many prosecutions were taken as the result of failure to comply with notices.
§ Mr. BaldryThe following figures arc taken from the Institution of Environmental Health Officers Annual Report 1990–91 survey of local authorities in England and Wales. 2,309 notices were served under section 352.719 notices were served under section 372, 403 of which were complied with (including those complied with by means of the local authority carrying out the works). 90 convictions were obtained for failure to comply with section 369, and654W 12 for failure to comply with a notice requiring works under section 372. Of the directions in force under section 354 at 21 March 1991, 4,202 were complied with and 618 were not complied with. 640 directions were revoked by the local authority or by a county court, and 653 directions were made during the year. No figures are available centrally on the number of notices served under section 358.
§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the Estate Action, priority estatesproject and housing action trust budgets for each year from 1989 to 1993.
§ Mr. BaldryProvision for the estate action and housing action trust programmes for the years in question is as follows:
£ million Estate action HATs 1989–90 190 — 1990–91 190 — 1991–92 268 10.3 1992–93 364 40.1 1993–94 356 86.8 PEP is a company limited by guarantee. The value of work funded by my Department is as follows:
£ million 1989–90 1.1 1990–91 1.2 1991–92 0.9 1992–93 0.9 Discussions with PEP are currently taking place with regard to applications for grant in 1993–94.
§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many comments he has received on the draft guidance manual for local authorities on how to develop and manage strategies for dealing with unsatisfactory houses in multiple occupation and when the final version will be published.
§ Mr. BaldryThe Department has received 48 written responses to the draft Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Management Guide. The guide is currently being revised and the final version will be published as soon as possible.
§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how he is monitoring compliance with the duty under section 605 of the Housing Act 1985, periodic inspection of district by local housing authority, in particular as it applies to part XI of the Act: and whether he proposes to make any directions as to how local authorities should comply with that duty.
§ Mr. BaldrySection 605 of the Housing Act 1985, as amended by the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, requires local authorities to consider the housing conditions in their districts at least once a year. It is for each authority to determine how it meets this duty and this is not monitored by the Department. We have no plans to issue directions in relation to the duty.