§ 47. Mr. Squireasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to expand the role of housing associations in providing housing under general need.
§ Mr. TraceyUnder the increased programme for the housing corporation and new private finance initiatives announced by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing, Urban and Affairs and Construction on 9 December, housing associations will be able to cater for more people in need of housing, particularly homeless families in bed and breakfast accommodation.
§ 59. Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many responses have been received in his Department to his announcement of 5 February about financial assistance to housing associations and further controls on local authority financial assistance to them and other bodies.
§ Mr. John PattenThe Department has received 13 written responses and a large number of telephone enquiries.
§ 60. Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local housing authorities were affected by his announcement of 5 February concerning financial assistance to housing associations and other bodies.
§ Mr. John PattenAll local authorities were affected by my announcement, insofar as it proposed new powers for authorities to give financial assistance for private rented housing and required them to obtain the Secretary of636W State's consent before giving such assistance. It is impossible to say how many authorities were working up specific schemes that might now require consent, since there has been no obligation on local authorities to inform us of their intentions in this regard.