§ 29. Mr. Arthur Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the total amounts of revenue deficit grants paid to housing associations for the years 1973–74, 1974–75 and 1975–76; and what is the estimated figure for the current year.
§ Mr. ArmstrongPayments of revenue deficit grant under Section 32 of the Housing Act 1974 commenced on 1st April 1975 and by 31st March 1976, £1,840,903 had been paid. A provision of £9 million has been made for 1976–77.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that housing associations which receive public money are accountable to the occupiers of the dwellings they build, or to the taxpayers at large.
§ Mr. FreesonHousing associations, to qualify for public money, must undergo a comprehensive process of registration, first with either the Charity Commissoners or the Registrar of Friendly Societies and then with the Housing Corporation.
The Housing Corporation has a duty to control the activities of registered housing associations and wide powers to enable it to do so. The corporation, in its turn, is responsible to the Secretary of State, who appoints its members.
The Government have made it clear that housing associations are expected to draw into their work democratically representative bodies such as trades unions, neighbourhood councils, councils 364W of social service and local authority representatives, and also to move towards co-operative management schemes and shared ownership by tenants' co-operatives. Many housing associations have consultative arrangements with their tenants. Some, few at present but likely to grow in number quite rapidly over the next few years, are organised on a co-operative basis and are thus totally accountable to the tenants who themselves jointly own and manage the dwellings they live in.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether housing associations have to submit their accounts to the district auditor.
§ Mr. FreesonNo.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the fees paid by housing associations to architects, solicitors, accountants, estate managers, and all other people, are subject to the control of the district auditor.
§ Mr. FreesonThe district auditor has no direct control over the affairs of housing associations, including the payment of fees.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Sectary of State for the Environment whether, in the event of a housing association having insufficient funds to carry out essential repairs to its dwellings, local authorities or his Department have to step in and carry out such repairs.
§ Mr. FreesonNeither my Department nor the local authority is specifically empowered to step in where a housing association is unable to carry out essential repairs, although a local authority's powers of action against disrepair or nuisance apply equally to properties owned by housing associations. Government grants are available to registered housing associations under the Housing Act 1974 to meet the costs of repairs which cannot be covered by rent income.