asked the Minister for the Environment if he will give consideration to the problems of those local authority tenants whose houses were not provided with open fireplaces; and if he will provide compensation in full for the cost of installing open fireplaces in local authority houses.

A scheme of grants was introduced in October 1974 for the installation of fireplaces or solid fuel heaters in houses including local authority houses, which are centrally heated only. These grants are payable irrespective of whether State assistance was paid previously for the provision or reconstruction of the house. The combined State and supplementary grant amounted to two-thirds of the cost of the work or £400 per house whichever was the lesser. In November 1977 on the introduction of a revised scheme of house improvement grants I announced that a State grant of up to £600 or two-thirds of the cost, whichever is the less, is available for installing a fireplace or solid fuel heater in any house which has no heating facilities other than a central heating system. In addition, a local authority may make a reconstruction loan to a tenant or householder to enable him to meet his share of the cost of the work. Unsecured loans of up of £200 may be made. I intend to introduce amending legislation to enable unsecured loans of up to £600 to be advanced by local authorities subject to the same income limit as applies for the time-being to local authorities house purchase loans schemes. Pending this change in the legislation, a loan of up to £600 may be approved and an instalment of up to £220 may be paid immediately.

It is, therefore, open to local authority tenants of centrally heated houses to have fireplaces or solid fuel heaters installed with the aid of these grants and loans. Work done on a co-operative basis is reckonable for grant and loan purposes. It is not possible for me to provide compensation in full for the cost of such works due to the necessity to conserve capital resources for more urgent projects such as the provision of new dwellings and local authority house purchase loans. I have ensured, however, that the necessary capital is being provided to meet the costs of the grants and loans for the installation of fireplaces under the scheme.