HC Deb 06 August 1976 vol 916 cc1194-5W
Mr. Stephen Ross

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether it is his policy in relation to housing association funds to give priority to those which are run on a charitable basis and where the shareholders provide their services free of charge.

Mr. Freeson

Approval for housing association grant is given in respect of the provision or improvement of dwellings by housing asssociations registered by the Housing Corporation. It is a condition of registration that at least half the members of an association's committee must provide their services to the association free of charge.

It is my intention to extend this condition, by legislative requirement, to all the members of a housing association's committee.

Mr. Stephen Ross

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average salary paid to full-time directors of housing associations.

Mr. Freeson

A sample survey of the 100 largest housing associations, carried out by the National Federation of Housing Associations, had an 80 per cent. response and revealed that the average salary of the highest paid executive of each association was just over £6,000 per annum. The top 10 per cent. received an average salary of under £10,500 per annum and the lowest 10 per cent. received an average salary of just under £4,000 per annum.

Mrs. Wise

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to cut house building by housing associations; and, if so, for what purpose and by how much.

Mr. Freeson

The Government propose that there should be reductions in expenditure on housing association activity during 1977–78. The Housing Corporation has been asked to achieve a saving of some £15 million by stopping the allocation of resources for new build schemes where need is not acute. This is likely to mean a reduction in approvals during the remainder of the current financial year and 1977–78 of upwards of 3,000 new build dwellings.

I also refer my lion. Friend to the Answer I gave on 5th August 1976 to my hon. Friend the Member for Mitcham and Morden (Mr. Douglas-Mann) about public expenditure on housing.