HC Deb 03 December 2003 vol 415 cc95-6W
Jeremy Corbyn:

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the capital allocation to the London borough of Islington is in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04 for the construction of houses for rent by (i) the local authority and (ii) Housing Associations through the Housing Corporation; and if he will make a statement. [141647]

Keith Hill:

The London borough of Islington received an all-purposes housing Basic Credit Approval of £14.970 million in 2002–03 and £13.607 million in 2003–04. Housing Corporation capital allocations to Islington for housing associations to build new housing for rent were £20.4 million in 2002–03 and £25.387 million in 2003–04.

Jeremy Corbyn:

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assistance his Department plans to provide to the London borough of Islington to meet the Decent Homes Standard by 2010; and if he will make a statement. [141648]

Keith Hill:

The assistance the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is providing to the London borough of Islington to meet the Decent Homes standard is as follows: a provisional allocation of £24.9 million for the next two years from the Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) programme subject to a satisfactory Audit Commission inspection of the ALMO once it is operational; credits of £75 million over the 30-year life of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract signed earlier this year; an all-purpose housing Basic Credit Approval off 13.607 million in 2003–04; a Major Repairs Allowance of £25.545 million in 2003–04.

In addition, Islington will continue to receive Major Repairs Allowance allocations and all-purpose allocations from The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The authority may also receive further funding to support its ALMO programme and for a second PEI scheme in future years.