asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the particular difficulties experienced in certain outlying rural areas and in coastal islands regarding the fact that no registered building contractors are resident in these areas, and therefore it is exceptionally difficult for those people who wish to reconstruct their present houses, or build new houses in order to qualify for grants and mortgage subsidies; and if he has any proposals to alleviate this position.
Written Answers. - House Improvement Grant Scheme.
58.
One of the main purposes of the house improvement grants scheme is to boost employment in the legitimate building industry. Against this background it is a condition of the scheme that an applicant for a grant is required to furnish the tax numbers of the contractor(s) engaged to carry out the particular works. I have no proposals to vary this condition. I would point out that the amounts of grants payable for dwellings situated on the islands are significantly higher than the grants payable generally under the scheme.
I expect to be in a position to announce shortly details of the arrangements proposed to exclude the black economy from the construction of grant-aided new houses.