§ Mr. Rookerasked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her reply on 14 November, if she will make a statement about the use of the Secretary of State's powers in section 62 of the Housing Associations Act 1985 in respect of tenant management housing co-operatives; and how much money will be lost by affected co-operatives.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Secretary of State for the Environment has power under section 93 of the Finance Act 1965 (which will be supplanted by section 62 of the Housing Associations Act 1985 on commencement of that Act on 1 April 1986) to make grants to compensate certain housing associations for tax they have paid.
Tenant management co-operatives which are registered housing associations, and which are operating under agreements, approved by the Secretary of State, with local authorities, are in principle eligible for a section 93 grant. The position on a small number of applications made by tenant management co-operatives and rejected by the Secretary of State is being urgently reviewed.