HC Deb 19 March 1986 vol 94 cc230-1W
8. Mr. Beaumont-Dark

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his policy towards housing in the public sector in the light of the Audit Commission's recent report entitled "Managing the Crisis in Council Housing", and, in particular, its reference to the relative amount spent by local authorities on their administrative costs, on the one hand, and on their housing management, on the other.

Mr. John Patten

I very much support the Audit Commission's call for improved housing management by local authorities, for example, by streamlining reletting procedures to reduce the time houses stand empty, more effective rent collection and arrears control, better services for the elderly, and, by partnership with the private sector. Less bureaucracy and a better service for tenants must be the goal—almost 100 authorities devote negligible effort to estate management. The benefits could be substantial. The commission estimates that rent arrears could be reduced by £100 million, administrative costs cut by £80 million to £100 million and over 20,000 empty dwellings made available for letting.

64. Mr. Maples

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his policy towards the reduction in the number of empty dwellings in the light of the Audit Commission's conclusion, in its recent report on council housing management, about the potential scope available to local authorities for streamlining their reletting procedures.

Sir George Young

My right hon. Friend has urged local authorities as a matter of the highest priority to reduce the number of empty dwellings by improving their property management. My Department's circular 12/85 sets out how to do this. The Audit Commission's conclusion that streamlined letting procedures could make over 20,000 extra dwellings available for letting underlines the need for urgent action.

47. Mr. Leigh

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his policy towards the promotion of partnership between housing authorities and the private sector in the light of the Audit Commission's recent estimate of the amount of money which may be available from the private sector for this purpose.

Sir George Young

The Government agree with the Audit Commission on the need to attract private finance into public sector housing. Our urban housing renewal unit has been discussing with many local authorities the scope for joint ventures with private developers to tackle the problems of their run-down housing estates. A number of successful schemes have already taken place. The unit is also keen to attract institutional finance into run-down estates through private trust, such as the one which will shortly take over Thamesmead. The new powers in the Building Societies Bill will make it easier for societies to support such ventures.