10Effect on certain contributions of a house ceasing to be available as such.
(1)Where under any of the provisions specified in the First Schedule to this Act (being provisions in pursuance of which payments may be made by the Secretary of State or by local authorities by way of financial assistance in connection with the provision or improvement of housing accommodation) a periodical payment would, apart from this section, have fallen to be made after the passing of this Act in respect of a house to any person other than a local authority, that payment shall not be made if, before the making thereof, the Secretary of State is satisfied that, during the whole or the greater part of the period to which the payment is referable, the house has not been available as a dwelling fit for habitation :
Provided that nothing in this subsection shall prevent the . making of a periodical payment in respect of any house if the Secretary of State is satisfied that the house could not with reasonable diligence have been made available, during the whole or the greater part of the period to which the payment is referable, as a dwelling fit for habitation.
Any question as to the period to which any payment is referable shall be determined for the purposes of this subsection by the Secretary of State.
(2)Where the power or duty of a local authority to make any payment is wholly or partly discharged by virtue of the preceding subsection, the Secretary of State may make such consequential reductions as he thinks appropriate in any sum payable by him to the authority.