asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the delay on a housing contract between the approval of councils in South-East Northumberland to the authorisation by the regional officers of his Department and the ultimate approval of the contract.

Housing tenders submitted to the Northern Regional Office of the Department by authorities in South-East Northumberland have been dealt with in 4–17 days. Longer time has been taken only in two exceptional cases where it was necessary to ask the local authority for more information. I do not know what time elapses between the Department's approval of the tender and the Council's ultimate decision on the contract.