§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what percentage of council properties in Lancashire are unfit to rent;
(2) what percentage of the total dwelling stock in Lancashire is (a) unfit for habitation and (b) in need of major renovation.
§ Sir George YoungData on unfit dwellings, whether occupied or not, and on dwellings which are not unfit but in need of renovation are reported by local authorities in their annual housing investment programme—HIP1— returns.
On the basis of the data from these returns it is estimated that at 1 April 1993 some 12 per cent. of dwellings in Lancashire were unfit and a further 30 per cent. were in need of renovation. Within local authorities dwellings 0.7 per cent. were reported as unfit.
§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the value of the capital receipts accumulated by each Lancashire local authority for the last three years.
§ Mr. BaldryThe latest available information is as follows:
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Accumulated usable capital receipts Figures in £000s As at 31 March 1991 As at 31 March 1992 As at 31 March 1993 Blackburn 510 0 0 Blackpool 2,730 1,798 6,561 Burnley 1,915 1,044 389
As at 31 March 1991 As at 31 March 1992 As at 31 March 1993 Chorley 930 600 982 Fylde 885 282 458 Hyndburn 2 180 0 Lancaster 801 385 488 Pendle 924 675 450 Preston 209 138 1,960 Ribble Valley 942 1,024 1,291 Rossendale 555 0 0 South Ribble 914 177 217 West Lancashire 2,038 1,237 1,433 Wyre 1,271 878 399 Source: Capital Outturn, Capital Receipts and Capital Estimates returns
§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new dwellings have been(a) built and (b) bought by each local authority in Lancashire over the past five years.
§ Sir George YoungEstimates of the total numbers of local authority house-building completions within each local authority area in Lancashire are published in "Local Housing Statistics", table 1. Figures for 1988 are in issue No. 93, for 1989 in issue No. 97, for 1990 in issue No 101 and for 1991 and 1992 in issue No. 105.
The number of new dwellings bought by local authorities are not separately identified on returns made to the Department by local authorities.
§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received in the last three years in relation to housing problems in Lancashire.
§ Sir George YoungMinisters and regional officials of the Department of the Environment maintain a regular dialogue with all local housing authorities in Lancashire through the housing investment programme process. In addition, I have personally visited a number of Lancashire authorities to discuss housing issues over the last three years. On 19 October 1992 I met a group of authorities —the North West regional renewal lobby—to discuss problems relating to the operation of the renovation grant system and private sector housing renewal in Lancashire and Greater Manchester.
On Monday 25 October 1993 I look forward to meeting a delegation for Lancashire led by the Bishop of Burnley, to discuss the Lancashire housing inquiry panel's wide ranging report "Putting our House in Order".
§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department has on(a) the homeless figures, (b) the general waiting list figures and (c) the sheltered housing waiting list figures for each local authority in Lancashire over the last three years.
§ Sir George YoungLocal authorities report information on their own dwellings in their annual housing investment programme—HIP1—returns.
The latest available reported figures for each authority in Lancashire, which are at 1 April 1993, appear in section C, homeless; column B5, households on waiting list; and column B6B, households on waiting list requiring specialised dwellings of the "1993 HIP1 All Items Print", a copy of which is in the Library.
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§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate his Department had made of(a) the time needed or (b) the financial resources needed to resolve the housing problems in Lancashire.
§ Sir George YoungNone. It is for local housing authorities to prepare comprehensive housing investment programme strategies for their areas, to identify housing problems and, in partnership with other housing providers and players in the housing field, to draw up programme to meet the needs identified.
§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many clearance projects in Lancashire have been delayed due to problems rehousing those that will be displaced in the process.
§ Sir George YoungThe Department of the Environment does not collect statistics on delayed clearance projects.