HC Deb 28 May 2004 vol 422 c252W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when councils will be allowed to borrow against their assets in the same way as housing associations. [175949]

Keith Hill

Local housing authorities may not borrow against housing assets because if they were to default on the loan repayment, it could result in the lender taking control of local authority housing stock, which is unacceptable. There are no plans to change this rule.