§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make available additional funding to local authorities and owner-occupiers to deal with the structural problems associated with Orlit and Whitsun-Fairhurst type houses; if he will ring-fence this expenditure; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonSubstantial resources totalling some £405 million have been made available to local authorities for capital investment in public sector housing in 1993–94. I will announce the housing capital allocations for 1994–95 shortly. These allocations are generally not earmarked for specific purposes and it is for local authorities themselves to determine their own policies and priorities for meeting local housing needs including the need to deal with Orlit and Whitsun-Fairhurst type houses.
Additional housing capital allocations are made available to local authorities in respect of expenditure incurred by them in the provision of reinstatement grants or repurchase from eligible owners of Orlit and Whitsun-Fairhurst houses.
§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to amend the provisions of legislation relating to housing defects; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThere are no plans to amend the provisions of the housing defects legislation. Under these provisions assistance has been available to eligible owners of defective houses for a 10-year period. In Scotland that period ends on 30 November 1994 and all applications must be submitted by that date.
§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what special financial provision he currently makes available to local authorities and owner-occupiers to deal with the structural problems associated with Orlit and Whitsun-Fairhurst type houses; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonSubstantial resources totalling some £405 million have been made available to local authorities for capital investment in public sector housing in 1993–94. Resources are not allocated specifically for work on any one type of house. It is for individual authorities to determine their own policies and priorities for investment in their own housing stock, including the need to tackle the structural problems found in Orlit and Whitson-Fairhurst houses.
184WEligible owners of Orlit and Whitsun-Fairhurst houses can require local authorities to repurchase or give grant to make good the house. Supplementary capital allocations are issued to local authorities each year to meet in full their expenditure liabilities.
§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary State for Scotland if he will visit the Paisley, South constituency to assess the problems of Orlit and Whitsun-Fairhurst type houses.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonMy right hon. Friend has no plans to visit Paisley, South. Responsibility for the repair and maintenance of council housing lies with local authorities and my right hon. Friend has no powers to intervene in individual cases.
§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the options for dealing with housing with structural defects, such as those of Orlit and Whitsun-Fairhurst design; what plans he has to fund research into potential solutions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonMy right hon. Friend has made no such assessment. Designated defective houses may either be demolished or repaired. PRC Homes Ltd., a subsidiary of the National House Building Council, is responsible for validating schemes of repair and it is for the building industry to devise schemes to meet specific requirements.