To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to ensure the continued operation of Handy Person schemes after 1 April 2010. (280499)

CLG will provide £17 million dedicated funding for handypersons services, via a separate named grant, in 2010-11. This will be the second year of a two year programme to build capacity in the sector, announced in the Government’s housing strategy for an ageing society, Lifetime homes, lifetime neighbourhoods.