§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the ratio of staff to units managed by (a) the West Midlands Housing Corporation, (b) Copec Housing Association, (c) Normid Housing Association and (d) Caldmore Housing Association over the 696W past five years; and if he will list those housing associations whose ratios exceed the West Midlands average.
§ Mr. StanleyThe West Midlands regional office of the Housing Corporation does not manage property. Returns to the Housing Corporation from the associations named provide the following ratios of staff to units. The staff figures include all staff and not only those engaged in management.
Copec Housing Association Normid Housing Association Caldmore Housing Assocication 1975 1:53 1:259 1:23 1976 1:35 1:230 1:31 1977 1:28 1:163 1:51 1978 1:27 1:79 1:43 1979 1:31 1:76 1:41 Comparable information for other housing associations whose ratios of staff to units managed exceed the West Midlands average cannot be made available without undue cost.
§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider implementing guidelines which would give the Housing Corporation powers to control the level of staff in relation to the number of units being managed or under control of housing associations.
§ Mr. StanleyI do not consider this necessary. Management costs are provided for by fixed allowances, which depend essentially on the number of units managed by the association. Cost in excess of these allowances which could not be specifically justified would either be disallowed or be allowed for grant only when the Department was satisfied that the necessary remedial measures were being taken.