§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he is satisfied that there is an adequate supply of fair rent housing becoming available at present through housing associations; and what steps he will take to increase that supply;
(2) in what housing areas he envisages housing associations being predominantly involved over the next few years;
(3) what guidance or encouragement he has given to dousing associations to continue or increase their fair rent housing programmes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StanleyIn this and subsequent financial years the supply of fair rent housing through housing associations will be governed among other things by the overall cash allocation made to the Housing Corporation for all forms of housing association capital expenditure. Under the new
264Wsystem of programme authorisation established under paragraph 3 of schedule 18 to the 1980 Housing Act, my right hon. Friend will as from 1981–82 approve the broad breakdown of housing association expenditure as between, for example, hostels, special needs accommodation for the elderly and the disabled, lowcost home ownership schemes, and fair rent schemes. I understand that the Housing Corporation will be submitting its proposals for its 1981–82 programme to my right hon. Friend fairly soon.