§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has given local authorities, housing associations and Scottish Homes on dealing with the structural defects of Orlit and Whitson-Fairhurst type houses; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonNo such advice has been given by my Department. However, information about approved repair schemes for defective house types is available from PRC Homes Ltd. A different scheme is required for each house type and, for some types, repair is either impractical or is not cost-effective. There is no approved repair scheme for the Whitson-Fairhurst and Orlit house types in Scotland. Where such a scheme does not exist, the defect cannot be dealt with, although in many cases the houses will continue to provide satisfactory accommodation for many years yet.
§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to bring forward additional measures to facilitate and assist local authorities, Scottish Homes, housing associations, co-operatives and owner-occupiers to deal with the structural defects of Orlit and Whitsun-Fairhurst type houses.
Lord James Douglas HamiltonNo further measures are necessary. Local authorities and other housing agencies have been informed about defective house types, such as the Orlit and Whitson-Fairhurst, and how they may be dealt with. Resources totalling almost £426 million have been made available to local authorities for capital investment in public sector housing in 1994–95 and they are able to undertake work on defective housing in their own stock if they consider this to be a priority. Scottish Homes can also make similar provision. Local authorities who assist private owners eligible for repurchase of their home or reinstatement grant are given additional capital allocations which fully reflect the cost of that assistance.