§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest estimate provided by the English house condition survey for the potential cost required to repair, renovate and improve unfit dwellings in the private sector; what is the Department's current funding for mandatory grants; what was the Department's funding 10 years ago; how he plans to counterbalance any discrepancy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungFrom data in the English house condition survey the potential cost of remedying unfitness in the private sector is estimated to be £4 billion. Responsibility rests primarily with the owner, but grant assistance is available from local authorities subject to a means test. The Government provide Exchequer grant for 60 per cent. of local authorities' expenditure on private sector renewal. A total of £260 million is allocated for this purpose in 1994–95. The amount spent on mandatory renovation grants will reflect the applications actually received. Total expenditure by local authorities on intermediate grants—the only mandatory grants for house renovation for which financial information was recorded separately—totalled £79.9 million in 1984–85.