§ 2.55 p.m.
§ Lord Howell asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Why the new money available under Section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 for housing projects is limited to national voluntary organisations; and how many city-based schemes will therefore be ineligible to apply for such funding.
§ Lord Strathclyde: My Lords, funding is not restricted to national organisations. Any national or local voluntary organisation offering direct, practical help to homeless people has been eligible since 1990 to apply for grant under Section 73 of the Housing Act 1985.
§ Lord HowellMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. Perhaps I may draw his attention to the fact that the Housing Corporation, which is responsible for these matters, produced a document which was leaked—it therefore became hallowed through being made a discussion document—proposing just that. Is the Minister aware that there are 40 city-based housing associations in Birmingham alone which particularly cater for ethnic and handicapped people? Is the Minister further aware that they would face tremendous hardship if the proposals went through? Can I take encouragement, based on what the Minister said, that the Government will reject any such proposals?
§ Lord StrathclydeMy Lords, we have no intention of changing the current policy.
§ Lord Williams of ElvelMy Lords, does that mean that the Minister is disavowing the Housing Corporation and if so, will he say so clearly and plainly?
§ Lord StrathclydeMy Lords, there may well be some confusion in the understanding of what the Housing Corporation is putting forward and this is the first time that I have heard of it. The point is that government policy is totally clear and unequivocal.