§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from organisations on the extent of rural homelessness; and of the responses to this Department's White Paper on housing, what percentage expressed concern over the extent of rural homelessness. [20983]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe representations we have received recently about rural housing issues, including those in response to the housing White Paper, have primarily been concerned with the proposed purchase grant proposals. My Department has commissioned research into the nature of housing need and the demand for housing in different types of rural areas. The results are expected later this year.
§ Mr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what safeguards he will introduce to ensure that future provision of rural social housing meets demand. [20981]
§ Mr. ClappisonGuidance is provided by the Department to local authorities on the preparation of their housing strategies and the need to identify and prioritise rural housing needs alongside other housing needs in their areas. Their priorities guide the allocation of Housing Corporation funding for new social housing to meet housing need in each area.
Public funding continues to support the Housing Corporation's rural housing programme which provides new social housing in small rural villages of 3,000 and fewer population. Between 1996–97 and 1998–99 this programme is expected to approve around 1,500 new rural homes a year which is over 300 more than the number being provided in 1995–96.
137WTo safeguard the supply of affordable rented housing and ensure the continued provision of sites, the Government are proposing to exempt small rural villages of 3,000 and fewer population from the purchase grant scheme. This exemption will also apply to the voluntary scheme that is being launched in April 1996.
A new rural housing enhancement factor will be introduced on 1 April 1996 to address the additional costs associated with developing schemes in rural areas. The effect of this multiplier will be to increase by up to a quarter the proportion of grant which schemes would otherwise receive.
We have also recently issued for consultation a draft circular on planning and affordable housing that provides practical advice to local planning authorities and developers on the implementation of affordable housing policies and clarification of how to assess need.
§ Mr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the level of rural homelessness(a) in total and (b) as a percentage of the national total of homeless households in each year since 1989. [20980]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe information is not available centrally. The data collected from local authorities on homeless households accepted for re-housing do not differentiate between households from rural and non-rural areas.
I have today placed in the Library a summary print showing the reported acceptances in each local authority area in England for the years 1980 to 1995.
§ Mr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of rural housing is unfit for human habitation. [20982]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe 1991 English house condition survey found 7.6 per cent. of rural housing to be unfit under section 604 of the Housing Act 1985, as amended by schedule 9 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.