§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for each of the development corporations in Scotland if the bids submitted for the housing stock of each corporation by alternative landlords have met all the criteria down by his Department. [5798]
§ Mr. Kynoch[holding answer 14 December 1995]: My right hon. Friend was satisfied that the bids from the landlords which appeared on the ballots in East Kilbride and Glenrothes conformed with the criteria set out in the guidance issued. The bids received in Cumbernauld, Livingston and Irvine are currently being evaluated by the respective development corporations which are expected to make their ballot recommendations to my right hon. Friend shortly.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what approaches Irvine housing association has made to Irvine development corporation requesting additional funding from the corporation since the association's establishment; how much Irvine housing association has received in financial support from Irvine development corporation up until this point; how this was broken down; and what outstanding requests for support from Irvine housing association are being considered by Irvine development corporation. [5800]
§ Mr. Kynoch[holding answer 14 December 1995]: Prior to Irvine housing association becoming operational on 28 August 1995 it received support of £299,138 from 1065W Irvine development corporation. The breakdown is shown in the table. Since 28 August the corporation's only contribution has been £950 per month towards the costs of the senior official on secondment to the association from the corporation. There are no outstanding requests for additional funding.
£ Professional fees 133,833 Staffing costs 131,464 Fitting out office 39,754 Sundry 18,824 323,875 Less contribution from Scottish Homes 24,737 299,138
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements the board of Irvine development corporation has put in place to avoid a conflict of interests arising from the role of the vice chair of Irvine development corporation as the chair of the Irvine housing association. [5802]
§ Mr. Kynoch[holding answer 14 December 1995]: The corporation's standing orders require the members of the hoard to declare any conflicts of interest.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to be in a position to announce the bidding organisations which will be included on the ballots for the housing stock of those development corporations which have still to ballot their tenants on the disposal of their housing stock. [5804]
§ Mr. Kynoch[holding answer 14 December 1995]: My right hon. Friend expects to announce his decisions during the first quarter of 1996.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions his Department has held with Irvine development corporation over the secondment of the former chief housing manager of Irvine development corporation to the Irvine housing association since the association's establishment; how much this secondment is costing the Irvine development corporation; when it is due to end; and if he will instruct the Irvine development corporation to end this arrangement. [5806]
§ Mr. Kynoch[holding answer 14 December 1995]: The secondment is discussed as part of the on-going dialogue between officials in the Department and the corporation. The current cost of the secondment to the corporation is £950 per month. The Department is content for the secondment to be reviewed by the corporation after the outcome of the ballot of tenants is known.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many tenants of Scotland's development corporations have lost part or all of their right to buy as a result of accepting tenancies with housing associations that have been transferred to these bodies as a result of trickle transfer by those development corporations. [5786]
§ Mr. Kynoch[holding answer 14 December 1995]: None. All trickle transfer sales are of vacant untenanted homes.
1066W
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what involvement his Department had in establishing the ballot areas which will he used by Irvine development corporation in balloting its tenants on an alternative landlord in advance of the corporation's wind-up; what criteria were considered in drafting these ballot areas; and what priority was accorded to an assessment of the housing stock transferred and still to he transferred to the Irvine housing association, indicating the form of discussions on this subject. [5787]
§ Mr. Kynoch[holding answer 19 December 1995]: The Scottish Office approved the corporation's detailed plans for the disposals of its housing stock. A copy was sent to the hon. Member on 20 April 1995. The criteria taken into account in deciding the ballot areas were, as set out on page 7, to identify areas that would be attractive to a wide range of prospective landlords, the requirements of the existing communities and the geography of the area. The transfer of housing stock to Irvine housing association is a key part of the corporation's broader housing strategy intended to achieve maximum diversification of ownership of rented housing in the period prior to the ballot tenants and to provide meaningful choice for tenants at the ballot. The transfer to Irvine housing association is among the matters discussed at regular meetings between the Department and the corporation.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions his Department had with Irvine development corporation in advance of trickle transfer of stock to Irvine housing association relating to guarantees to be sought from the housing association about the right-to-buy entitlement of Irvine development corporation tenants transferring to Irvine housing association in advance of the ballots of tenants. [5788]
§ Mr. Kynoch[holding answer 14 December 1995]: None. All trickle transfer sales to Irvine housing association are of vacant untenanted homes.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions have taken place between his Department and Irvine development corporation in respect of the vice chair of Irvine development corporation continuing as the chair of the board of the Irvine housing association; if the Irvine development corporation intends this arrangement to end; and what assessment he has made of possible conflicts of interest arising between Irvine development corporation and the Irvine housing association in the disposal of Irvine development corporation's housing stock. [5799]
§ Mr. Kynoch[holding answer 14 December 1995]: The appointment of the chairman of Irvine housing association is a matter for the association.
The guidance issued by the Scottish Office provides the criteria against which all bids are examined and the final decision on which organisations should appear on the ballot rests with my right hon. Friend.