HC Deb 16 March 2004 vol 419 c219W
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on how the change in the level of council funding for housing has affected the residents of Crosby since 1997. [160567]

Keith Hill

Since 1997 allocations of capital funding to local authorities for housing purposes have risen consistently by about 15 per cent. per annum on average. This includes the Major Repairs Allowance the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister introduced in 2001–02 specifically for the improvement of local authority stock alongside the Decent Homes standard which sets out minimum standards to be met by 2010. Sefton's allocations in the period 1997 to 2003–04 have risen by over 200 per cent.. In addition to this welcome increase there is support through the Community Housing Task Force and Government Office for the North West to help the Local Authority and its tenants to choose the best strategy for long term improvement.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on how the(a) Starter Homes Initiative and (b) Abandoned Homes Initiative have affected the residents of Buckingham. [161321]

Keith Hill

Since September 2001,the Starter Home Initiative has been helping key workers into home ownership in areas where the high cost of housing is undermining the recruitment and retention of skilled staff in our key public services. By the end of February 2004, 86 key workers employed in the Aylesbury Vale District Council area, in which Buckingham is located, had bought homes under the Starter Home Initiative.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not aware of an "Abandoned Homes Initiative". The Market Renewal Pathfinders programme tackles low demand and abandonment in a number of areas where this is a significant problem. This programme is not providing funding in Buckingham.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assistance his Department provides for people wishing to get onto the property ladder in Chorley. [161399]

Keith Hill

The Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme provides funding for schemes, such as shared ownership (part buy /part rent), to assist people into home ownership in line with regional strategies and investment priorities.

In the current financial year (2003–04) £0.9 million of Housing Corporation funding has been allocated to provide 30 shared ownership dwellings in Chorley, and to date 107 social housing tenants in Chorley have purchased their rented home under the Right to Buy scheme.