§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the present arrangements for promoting housing co-operatives; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreesonCo-operative housing in this country is growing. There were 106 co-operative groups in 1977, compared with 36 in 1975. The movement is still a small one, struggling to make an impact, and I have been examining ways in which co-operatives can be given more positive support, especially in their formative stages. Following discussions with the Housing Corporation, I have agreed that the Corporation should be more directly involved in the arrangements which it at present carries out through the Cooperative Housing Agency. This work will in future be integrated within a specialist section of the Corporation devoted to promoting co-operative housing, other new forms of tenure, and participation of tenants in housing management. This will also enable more practical help to be given to co-operatives across the country through the Corporation's regional offices.
About £8 million was invested in housing co-operative projects last year and a similar level of investment is expected in 1978–79. The Housing Corporation has agreed to allocate up to 10 per cent. —currently about £36 million—of its annual budget, for investment in cooperative housing. I hope that the movement will now take up the considerable funds being made available.
I also wish to see the development of an independent national body representing the housing co-operative movement as a whole. During the coming months I shall seek views from the Advisory Committee on Co-operatives, the Federation 776W of Housing Co-operatives and the Cooperative Development Agency on how this could be achieved. Meanwhile, the advisory committee will continue to advise the Housing Corporation on co-operative housing matters.