§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress of the review of disabled facilities grants. [24952]
§ Ms Keeble[holding answer 9 January 2002]: There has been no review of disabled facilities grants as such. However, the Government have been considering the maximum limit for grant, and preparing new guidance.
The Government have decided that the maximum limit for mandatory disabled facilities grant in England should be increased from £20,000 to £25,000. This change will take effect from 21 January 2002. Government resources to local authorities for the disabled facilities grant budget for 1992–93 will be increased to £88 million and we will shortly be announcing individual DFG allocations to local authorities for that year.
In conjunction with the Department of Health, my Department is also preparing new statutory and good practice guidance for local authorities covering all aspects of housing adaptations for disabled people. We hope to publish this new guidance in the spring of 2002.