asked the Minister fort the Environment (i) the number of applicants for home improvement grants received by his Department in 1980; (a) before the announcement that the Government were abolishing the grant, (b) after the announcement but before the closing date, and (c) after the closing date; (ii) the number of home improvement grants paid during 1980; (iii) the number of those grants which were in respect of 1980 applications; (iv) the number of applications still outstanding at 31 December 1980; (v) the reasons for (iv); and (vi) number of outstanding grants paid since 1 January 1981.
Written Answers. - Home Improvements Grants.
348.
The information sought, in-so-far as it is available, is as follows:
(i) (a) 4,581, (b) 44,492, (c) 3,400
(ii) 42,731 (including 17,963 solid fuel grants but excluding instalments paid).
(iii) Not known. It would take an inordinate and unjustifiable amount of research and staff time to ascertain this.
(iv) Not known but it is estimated that approximately 41,000 improvement grants remained to be paid in the current year.
(v) A grant cannot be paid until it has been established that the conditions of payment have been complied with; notification of completion of work is received and an inspection confirms that work is satisfactorily completed.
(vi) House improvement grants paid in 1981:
January 5,241 (including 2,036 solid-fuel grants)
February 5,890 Estimated (including approximately 3,529 solid-fuel grants)