§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the resources available to local authorities in East Lancashire(a) to improve below standard private sector terraced houses and (b) to declare clearance areas, where appropriate, over the period 2001 to 2004. [148942]
Mr. Robert AinsworthThe six East Lancashire authorities will receive a total of £9,720 million in the coming year through the Housing Investment Programme. This resource can be used by the authorities concerned as they see fit. Additionally, they will receive a total of £11,870 million via the Major Repairs Allowance in line with the Governments commitment to bring all council housing up to a decent standard by 2010.
Housing capital resources for local authorities nationally in 2003–04, the end of the current spending review period, will be around £2.6 billion.
In December 2000 measures were announced enabling authorities to support the renovation and improvement of private sector housing in a better targeted way. At the same time, we announced our intention to proceed with more fundamental reforms to the legislation to give authorities more effective powers to turn around areas of low demand and unpopular housing.