HC Deb 19 January 1987 vol 108 cc590-1
7. Mr. Gwilym Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what level of support he is giving to housing association activities in Wales.

Mr. Mark Robinson

My right hon. Friend has increased support for the housing association movement in Wales by 22 per cent. in 1987–88 to £54.7 million. With receipts, this will allow a gross Housing Corporation programme of nearly £59 million and is ample evidence of our continuing commitment to the housing association movement in Wales.

Mr. Jones

May I remind my hon. Friend of the recent announced partnership between a housing association, Cardiff city council and free enterprise sector capital to build over 600 new homes in St. Mellons? Many of those homes will be let to people on the council housing waiting list. Does he agree that this scheme offers a much more imaginative way forward, which I hope will be followed by other schemes in Wales?

Mr. Robinson

I entirely agree with the sentiments that my hon. Friend has expressed. Of the amounts that I have mentioned this afternoon, the Housing Corporation has set aside £10 million for such schemes in Wales. I am pleased to announce that projects similar to the St. Mellons scheme, but on a smaller scale, have been approved at Abergavenny, Chepstow and Camarthen. A number of others are under further consideration.

Mr. D. E. Thomas

Although I welcome the increased funding for housing associations, can the Minister tell us how his figure of allocation agrees with the bids put in by housing associations in Wales or by how much it falls short? What is the declared capacity of the associations to build units as compared with the allocations made?

Mr. Robinson

That is not a matter for me; it is a matter for the Housing Corporation. The reaction that I have had from housing associations in Wales shows that they are extremely pleased with the increase in resources that they have been given. Over the last two years those resources have been given a boost of 40 per cent.

Mr. Anderson

Will the Minister ensure that all local authorities in Wales are encouraged to follow the model of the St. Mellons scheme, which is wlecome? Will he say, as a matter of policy, whether he wants housing associations to build, not for specialist groups and not just for sale, but for the general list for rent?

Mr. Robinson

These schemes require the co-operation of local authorities. In the case of the St. Mellons scheme Cardiff city council is making land available and I hope that other authorities will be similarly involved. I hope that housing associations in Wales will undertake mixed and balanced programmes along the lines that the hon. Gentleman has described.