Earlier this year my Department sought, by way of a questionnaire to local authorities, specific information on the number of local authority rented dwellings which have full, partial or no central heating. Information has at this stage been received from most local authorities. However, further clarification of certain data is being pursued with the local authorities concerned with a view to definitive completion of the survey.
In 1994, local authorities were advised by my Department that full central heating should be provided in all new local authority dwellings. It is established practice with regard to older existing rented housing stock that the management, maintenance and improvement of such dwellings, including the installation of central heating, is the responsibility of the local authority. For this purpose, authorities may use the full proceeds of their rental income and miscellaneous housing receipts, supplemented, as necessary, from their general revenue resources. The most recent statistics available from local authorities indicate that they spent some £146 million – 185 million – on the management and maintenance of their rented stock in 2000.