asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider increasing the ceiling of £420 in calculating reconstruction grants, especially in view of the fact that it is many years since this figure was fixed and it has not kept pace with the increased cost of labour and materials.

The scales of grants available for all aspects of private enterprise housing were reviewed in conjunction with the preparation of the White Paper—Housing in the Seventies. An increase in the grant levels for reconstruction work is not contemplated at this stage.

Does the Minister consider a figure of £420, which has been on the Statute Book for, perhaps, the past fifteen years, to be a reasonable and accurate assessment of present day costs?

If it appears that the level of these grants is not sufficient to induce a reasonable amount of reconstruction work, the matter will then be reconsidered.

Can the Minister say when he might be in a position to review the matter?

As soon as this evidence becomes available. It has not had that effect yet.

Is the Minister seriously telling the House that he does not realise that a figure of £420 is an unrealistic figure at this time in view of the inflation which we have experienced in the past ten years in particular?

There is no evidence to show that the level of grants is inhibiting reconstruction work.

I asked the Minister if a figure of £420 is a reasonable one?

The purpose of the grants is to encourage the reconstruction of houses and the grants appear to be still having that effect.

This is very poor compensation for people forced to spend money on old houses and for whom the Minister failed to provide new houses.

The purpose of the grants is to induce people to do that. It is a worthwhile idea. It is having that effect.

But it is having the effect——

There is no inherent advantage in the money being spent by the Exchequer so long as the work is done.

The amount of money available is curtailing the amount of work being done.

There is no evidence of that.