§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what statutory authority payment of housing subsidies has been delayed in respect of local authorities in breach of the Housing Finance Act 1972.
§ Mr. ChannonSection 15 of the Housing Finance Act 1972 provides for subsidy under the Act to be paid at such times and in such manner as the Treasury may direct and subject to such conditions as may be imposed under that 247W Section. The final entitlement to subsidy for any year under the Act cannot be determined until an authority's accounts for the year have been closed and audited. Any payment before that is an advance based on estimates. By agreement with the local authority associations, such advances are normally made at the end of June and the end of December.
Where a default order has been made against an authority under the Housing Finance Act, my right hon. and learned Friend has power under Section 99 of that Act to make reduced payments of housing subsidies or to suspend or discontinue such payments.