HC Deb 13 February 2004 vol 418 cc338-9W
Simon Hughes

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much money central Government allocated to each London borough to invest in social housing in each year since 1999. [155094]

Mr.Raynsford

Information on local authority housing capital allocations and the funding provided to housing associations in each London borough since 1999–2000 is available in the Library of the House.

Simon Hughes

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action the Government is taking(a) to eliminate non-decent social housing by 2010 and (b) to reduce the number of vulnerable people living in non-decent homes by 70 per cent, by 2010. [155095]

Keith Hill

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is providing both financial and other support to assist local authorities in delivering decent homes. Over the period 2003–06 £7.9 billion is available for capital expenditure on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) housing stock.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is also making available £1.4 billion through Private Finance Initiative (PFI).

Guidance on implementing the standard and conducting options appraisals has also been published.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's "Community Housing Task Force" together with Government Offices for the Regions are currently working with local authorities to help them develop their Options appraisals.

This process is designed to help the authority put in place a plan that will deliver decent homes.

To reduce the number of vulnerable people living in non-decent homes the Government will increase the proportion of privately rented housing stock which is in decent condition.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will continue to encourage schemes which offer support and loan finance to homeowners who repair or adapt their properties. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will provide extra resources for home improvement agencies to help older and vulnerable home owners to remain independent in their own homes and increase the statutory protection for tenants of private landlords by seeking to establish mandatory licensing for Houses in Multiple Occupation. Through a Regulatory Reform Order, local authorities have now much more freedom to help homeowners improve the condition of their homes which can include improvements to heating and insulation.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many social housing units have been built in(a) the North West, (b) Lancashire and (c) Chorley in each year since 2000. [154316]

SHG and LASHG unit completion figures for the North West
Number of units in year
1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Total
Total dwellings for the North West 3,998 3,665 3,820 3,661 15,144
Total dwellings for Lancashire 861 899 554 668 2,982
Total dwellings for Chorley 29 15 56 14 114