§ Mr. HopkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to require local authorities to limit increases in housing rents during the period they are seeking convergence with registered social landlord rent levels. [151575]
Mr. Robert AinsworthLocal authorities are responsible for deciding the level of their rents. We expect all social landlords to ensure that no tenant will be subject to a change in their rent as a result of the combined influence of restructuring and convergence of more than £2 a week in any year above the normal increase for inflation. We intend to use the Housing Revenue Account Subsidy system to encourage restructuring and convergence and discourage excessive rent increases.