§ Mr. Richard SpringTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will provide further funding for debt-free local authorities which did not receive transitional Local Authority Social Housing Grant funding. [153025]
§ Keith HillLocal Authority Social Housing grant was abolished from 1 April 2003 as part of the measures outlined in 'Sustainable Communities: building for the future' in order to allow a more strategic use of resources. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister1228W announced additional funding for the transitional arrangements on 21 October 2003. In all £432 million has been made available to debt free local authorities and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to provide further additional transitional funding. Local authorities remain able to provide social housing through resources allocated to them and the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme provides Social Housing Grant to registered social landlords.
§ Tom CoxTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions took place with representatives of housing associations in the London Borough of Wandsworth on the decision by the Housing Corporation to reduce the number of housing associations that receive development funding. [152975]
§ Keith HillThe Housing Corporation is currently piloting a partnering programme with a number of Associations. It consulted widely on the pilot prior to its commencement. The consultation included both local authority and housing association representatives.
The eligibility criteria for the pilot were publicly available and associations were invited to bid to the Housing Corporation through the partnering route.if they could bring added value to the development programme.
The scheme is a pilot and other Associations are still able to bid through the traditional route, and will be funded if projects meet national and regional housing strategy objectives, represent value for money and are deliverable, subject to available funding.
The outcome of the pilot might reduce the number of associations developing, however there have been no specific discussions about reducing the number and there have been no decisions made on the future number of developing associations.
§ Tom CoxTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many housing associations within the Greater London area will cease to receive development funding from the Housing Corporation in 2004. [152976]
§ Keith HillThe Housing Corporation, in conjunction with Regional Housing Boards including London, are still assessing and considering the bids received for funding through the approved development programme (ADP) for 2004–05 and 2005–06. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not yet taken decisions on which bids to approve.
§ Tom CoxTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many properties have been provided in(a) the Greater London area and (b) the London Borough of Wandsworth in each of the last five years by the Housing Corporation in its London approved development programme. [152977]
§ Keith HillThe number of homes provided in the London region and the London Borough of Wandsworth in each of the last five years through funding via the Housing Corporation Approved Development Programme is shown in the following table.
1229W
London (a) Wandsworth (b) 1998–99 8,518 271 1999–2000 6,675 210 2000–01 6,700 140 2001–02 6,289 130 2002–03 5,501 116 Total 33,683 867 Source:
Housing Corporation Outturn statements