HC Deb 24 May 1989 vol 153 cc599-600W
Mr. Soley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to publish amended reports correcting the errors in the documents published by his department in March from the consultants appointed to study the proposed HATs in Southwark, Lambeth, Tower Hamlets and Sunderland.

Mr. Trippier

If the hon. Member knows of any errors in the consultant's reports about the proposed housing action trust areas in Southwark, Lambeth, Tower Hamlets and Sunderland published on 16 March, I should be grateful if he would write to me.

Mr. Soley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment further to his answer to the hon. Member for Hammersmith of 23 March,Official Report, column 780, what further expenditure on consultancy or other work related to the proposed HAT areas he has agreed to; what are the briefs given to the consultants; which consultants have been appointed; and what is the estimated cost of the work they have been commissioned to do in (a) Lambeth, (b) Southwark, (c) Sandwell, (d) Leeds and (e) Sunderland.

Mr. Trippier

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has appointed consultants to discuss the proposals contained in the reports of the proposed trust areas published on 16 March. The objectives of the consultation exercise are

  1. (a) to explain to tenants, residents and other local interests the findings in the consultants' reports and the illustrative proposals put forward for improving the areas of the proposed trust estates.
  2. (b) to consult tenants, residents and other local interests to establish their own views, ideas and suggestions about what could be done to improve their estates, including their reactions to the proposals contained in the reports.
    3. 600
  3. (c) to produce reports in t he form of commentaries on the key proposals contained in the original reports indicating tenant priorities; their attitudes towards the proposals, including their own suggestions for improvement; and the effect they would have on the prospects for achieving the primary objects of a Trust as set out in section 63 of the Housing Act 1988.

The consultants are led by Peat Marwick McLintock in Sunderland, by PIC Ltd. in Lambeth and Southwark and by PIEDA in Leeds. In Sandwell, the further study of the Cape Hill area by a consortium led by Price Waterhouse announced by my right hon. Friend in his answer to the hon. Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans) of 16 March at column 322 is still under way. The costs of the contracts will remain commercially confidential until they have been completed.