§ Ms. HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the policies of the proposed housing action trust in Southwark on rent arrears.
§ Mr. TrippierI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on Wednesday 19 July at column213.
§ Ms. HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if the proposed housing action trust in Southwark would be able to accept transfer applications from Southwark council tenants;
(2) what effect would the creation of the proposed housing action trust in Southwark have on the rehousing, if places became available, of those tenants of the North Peckham and Gloucester grove estates, currently on Southwark council waiting lists.
§ Mr. Trippier[holding answer 21 July 1989]: These would be matters for discussion between Southwark council and a trust.
§ Ms. HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in the event of a housing action trust being created, what requirement would be placed on the trust to accept a share of homeless cases in Southwark.
§ Mr. Trippier[holding answer 21 July 1989]: Where a local housing authority requested a trust's assistance in discharging certain of its responsibilities towards the homeless, section 70 of the Housing Act 1988 would require the trust to co-operate in rendering reasonable assistance.
§ Ms. HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of the membership of the proposed housing action trust board in Southwark would be tenants from either the Gloucester grove or North Peckham estates.
§ Mr. Trippier[holding answer 21 July 1989]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 19 July, at column 213.
§ Ms. HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he intends to take to ensure the independence of action of the members of the proposed housing action trust board in Southwark.
§ Mr. Trippier[holding answer 21 July 1989]: The trust would itself be responsible for day-to-day decisions. Members will also be appointed for a number of years, fixed in advance. I would expect all of them to play a full part in helping to achieve a trust's objectives.
§ Ms. HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether there will be any limitations on the time the proposed housing action trust in Southwark could continue to exist.
§ Mr. TrippierSection 88 of the Housing Act 1988 requires a housing action trust to use its best endeavours to secure that its objects are achieved as soon as practicable.