asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the problem caused to house improvement grant applicants due to the change in the regulations in which a grant allocation will not be notified until the completion of work.
31.
Written Answers. - House Improvement Grant Applications.
23.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will clarify the procedures now required in respect of house improvement grant applications; the form of prior approval or acknowledgment which is now necessary; whether different procedures apply depending on the date of application; and the guarantee grant applicants have if normal procedures are waived.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 31 together.
As I recently announced, the need for a prior inspection has been dispensed with in cases where valid applications for house improvement grants were received in my Department on or before 25 February 1986 and a first inspection had not been carried out by that date. Applicants covered by this dispensation have been written to by my Department advising them that:
—the improvement works may be commenced on receipt of the letter of approval;
—the amount of grant payable will be determined after inspection when the work is completed; and
—all the conditions of the grants (other than the prior inspection requirement) applicable when a person applied for the grant must be fulfilled.
In the case of applications received after 25 February the prior inspection will still be an absolute condition of eligibility and work must not begin without that inspection first being carried out.