§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the current tabulation of the distribution of the SAP rating of the housing stock. [66885]
§ Mr. RaynsfordDetails of the distribution of SAP ratings in the housing stock will be included in an energy report of the 1996 English House Condition Survey due for publication this spring.
§ Ms MoranTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to consult on a best value framework for housing as announced in his statement on Housing and Regeneration Policy on 22 July 1998. [67438]
§ Ms ArmstrongWe are today publishing a consultation paper, "Best Value in Housing Framework", allowing until 16 April 1999 for comments. Best value is a central part of the Government's agenda for modernising local government. Its application to housing, as one of the key functions undertaken by local authorities, is therefore of prime importance. Under the provisions in Part I of the Local Government Bill, currently before Parliament, local authorities will have to set, in consultation with tenants and others, tough targets for their investment programmes and for the quality of their service delivery. They will be judged by their performance. As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 11 June 1998 a new Housing Inspectorate, under the auspices of the Audit Commission, will be established which will monitor their performance.
568WThe consultation paper explains the framework within which local housing authorities will need to operate in obtaining best value in housing. It takes account of key housing issues such as the relationship between best value and the housing investment programme process; the role of tenants and residents; the read across to registered social landlords; and principles around the operation and establishment of the Housing Inspectorate. I have placed copies of the consultation paper in the Libraries of both Houses.