§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average time between formal submissions of proposals by a housing association to the Housing Corporation and their approval.
§ Mr. StanleySuch statistical evidence as is available is in the National Federation of Housing Associations new build and rehabilitation pipeline studies carried out between 1974 and 1978. These indicated that under the arrangements then prevailing, which required scrutiny of schemes by both the Housing Corporation and the Department of the Environment, the average time between scheme submission and approval for new build schemes was 15 weeks, and for renovation schemes was three weeks where simplified procedures applied and six weeks where they did not.
Information is not yet available for schemes approved by the Housing Corporation since April 1981 under the new single scrutiny arrangements.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of applications formally submitted by a housing association to the Housing Corporation are subsequently withdrawn.
§ Mr. StanleyThe information is not available. However, the proportion of such cases is believed to be very small.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the procedure of the Housing Corporation for handling applications from housing associations.
§ Mr. StanleyThe new arrangement for single scrutiny by the Housing Corporation which came into effect on 1 April this year should prove to be a material improvement on the previous double scrutiny by the Department and the corporation. In conjunction with the corporation and the National Federation of Housing Associations, I shall continue to look for ways in which further improvements in scheme scrutiny might be achieved subject to the need to maintain satisfactory value and accountability for public funds.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many proposals from housing associations for housing schemes for disabled people have been approved by the Housing Corporation in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergNumbers of new housing association dwellings in England designed for the chronically sick and disabled, for which housing cost yardstick approval was granted, are published for 1976 and 1977 in "Housing and Construction Statistics: 1969–1979"—table 62—and for 1978 to 1980 in "Housing and Construction Statistics: Part 2; No. 5"—table 2.14.442W Copies are available in the Library. Separate information for schemes funded by the Housing Corporation is not available.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his estimate of the cost of abortive work undertaken by housing associations and the Housing Corporation as a result of the Housing Corporation' s decision not to allow informal discussions prior to formal submission of applications;
(2) when the Housing Corporation ceased to allow housing associations to have informal discussions concerning proposed projects; why this decision was taken; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StanleyI have no estimate of the cost of abortive work. The Housing Corporation has not ceased to allow housing associations to have informal discussions on proposed projects. Its recently issued schemework procedure guide, available to all housing associations and their consultants, advises informal liaison with the corporation's regional offices.