§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of the special needs management allowance.
§ Mr. Baldry[holding answer 20 April 1993]: Special needs management allowance is paid to housing associations by the Housing Corporation, through funding provided by my Department, to contribute to the housing management costs of accommodation providing for people with special needs. When the scheme was introduced in April 1991, as a replacement for the existing hostel deficit grant arrangements, housing associations were informed that it would be reviewed as soon as there was sufficient evidence of the operation of the scheme. The Housing Corporation will therefore be reviewing this year the working of the scheme, taking account of the results of a study mounted by my Department which will compare the effects of the special needs management allowance arrangements with those of the old hostel deficit grant scheme.