HC Deb 16 October 2002 vol 390 c898W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many affordable rental homes will be built by(a) local authorities and (b) registered social landlords in the current year. [71977]

Mr. McNulty

Central government does not make forecasts of affordable housing build. We expect local authorities to plan to meet the housing requirements of the whole community, including those in need of affordable housing.

However, from information available through the Housing Corporation's monitoring of its Approved Development Programme (ADP) and support via Local Authority Social Housing Grant (LASHG), it is broadly estimated that RSLs will be complete between 16,000 and 17,000 new homes by for rent (excluding shared ownership) during 2002–03.

RSLs remain the principal providers of new social housing. Local authorities build very few new dwellings, generally only in special circumstances.