asked the Minister for the Environment the location and year of construction of certain rented houses suffering from serious deterioration; and if he will name the local authorities to be assigned funds for improvements to these houses, as mentioned in Building on Reality 1985-87.
Written Answers. - Local Authority Housing.
618.
The houses in question are generally those provided under low cost arrangements in the sixties and early seventies, some of which now require major works of a structural nature. I hope to be in a position shortly to write to housing authorities giving details of the new capital and subsidy arrangements. It will then be a matter for local authorities to submit proposals in respect of appropriate schemes.
619.
asked the Minister for the Environment the location of local authority housing estates with serious difficulties of anti-social behaviour; and if he will give details of finance being made available for special environmental and other improvements.
The relevant paragraph of the plan did not propose specific financial allocations for the carrying out of the environmental and other improvements envisaged, since progress in dealing with the problems referred to is not considered to depend so much on special financial assistance as on the introduction of a new integrated approach to the problem. The new approach would involve greater emphasis on estate management and improvement, tenant involvement, effective maintenance procedures, etc. and more effective liaison between the local authorities concerned and the statutory and voluntary agencies operating in the employment, training, health, welfare, etc. areas.
At this stage, it would not be helpful to list the housing estates causing greatest concern in this connection.