§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to collect and publish regular information concerning (a) the number of housing units disposed of by local authorities to private developers for refurbishment or redevelopment, (b) the number of housing units made available under such schemes (i) for fair rent. (ii) for sale under a low cost home ownership 546W scheme and (iii) for sale at market value, (c) the number of housing units made available under such schemes which have subsequently been let to or purchased by (1) former tenants of the properties, (2) council tenants on the local authority's transfer list, (3) households on the local authority's waiting list and (4) homeless households; and (d) where the units refurbished or redeveloped are for sale, the resale price of the properties.
§ Sir George YoungInformation will be collected quarterly, as from the current quarter, about the number of local authority dwellings sold to private developers or to housing associations for refurbishment and resale. Arrangements for publication have not yet been decided. I am considering whether regular information might also be collected about the subsequent use of such dwellings and, if appropriate, I shall consult the local authority associations.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been conducted by his Department into what existing local authority tenants would prefer their homes to be managed or owned by (a) housing associations, (b) building societies and (c) non-profit making trusts.
§ Sir George YoungAs the preferences of tenants are bound to depend on the circumstances of a particular case, the primary need is for full consultation with the tenants concerned before any proposed scheme receives approval. At Thamesmead, tenants expressed a clear preference in a referendum for ownership and management by a non-profit distributing company controlled by the residents, as opposed to a trust controlled by the local authority. My Department is also carrying out research on the attitudes of tenants and owners who live in different types of co-operatives.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department has about the instance where local authority tenants have initiated a proposal that their landlord (a) delegate the management of their homes or (b) dispose of the ownership of their homes to (i) a housing association, (ii) a building society, (iii) a private trust or (iv) a private developer; and whether he can provide information on what results have arisen from any such proposal.
§ Sir George YoungMany local authority tenants are dissatisfied with the management of their homes, and would welcome either improved management by the local authority, or transfer of the ownership or management to them or to another body. The urban housing renewal unit in my Department is discussing with local authorities a wide range of options for their difficult-to-manage estates. However, it is the responsibility of local authorities to draw up specific proposals in consultation with their tenants.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what research his Department has conducted concerning (a) the inclination, (b) the capacity and (c) the experience of building societies to take over (i) the management and (ii) the ownership of local authority rented housing stock;
(2) what research his Department has conducted concerning (a) the inclination, (b) the capacity and (c) 547W the experience of housing associations to take over (i) the management and (ii) the ownership of local authority rented housing stock.
§ Sir George YoungThe building societies have been examining how best they might use the new powers proposed in the Building Societies Bill and how they might be able to co-operate with the public sector in the improvement and better management of housing estates, while looking after the interests of their savers. We shall want to discuss the societies' ideas with local authorities and with housing associations. A study being carried out for my Department by the Centre for Housing Research at Glasgow university will collect information about the respective attitudes of local authority and housing association tenants to a wide range of housing management practices.