HC Deb 18 June 1990 vol 174 cc417-8W
Mr. Soley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he received(a) from ballots, (b) from opinion surveys made available to him and (c) otherwise, in respect of tenant attitudes towards the proposed designation of housing action trusts in (i) Tower Hamlets, (ii) Lambeth, (iii) Southwark, (iv) Sandwell, (v) Leeds and (vi) Sunderland.

Mr. Michael Spicer

In Sunderland, the Electoral Reform Society conducted a ballot on the proposal to designate a housing action trust. In Leeds, Leeds polytechnic ran a ballot for the tenants on the issue of continuing the discussions about the HAT proposal. I am also aware of a MORI poll in Lambeth. In addition, the Department has used consultants, chairmen designate and meetings between Ministers and tenants' representatives to inform themselves of tenants' views.

Mr. Soley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make a statement on his intentions in respect of the housing action trust proposed in Southwark; and what measures he proposes to take in respect of housing within the areas previously considered for housing action trusts in(a) Tower Hamlets, (b) Lambeth, (c) Leeds, (d) Sunderland and (e) Sandwell.

Mr. Michael Spicer

Consultations are continuing with tenants and Southwark council with the intention of proceeding to a ballot later this year. Tenants can then decide whether they want the improvements that a HAT would bring. In the other areas local authorities will doubtless be preparing plans for dealing with their housing problems.

Mr. Soley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent by his Department(a) on consultants' fees and expenses and (b) otherwise, on the proposed housing action trusts in (i) Tower Hamlets, (ii) Lambeth, (iii) Southwark, (iv) Sandwell, (v) Leeds and (vi) Sunderland.

Mr. Michael Spicer

Expenditure on those six housing action trust proposals is shown in the following table:

(a) expenditure related to consultancies £000 (b) expenditure related to the Department's information material and to ballots £000
Tower Hamlets 182 3
Lambeth 182 12
Southwark 933 12
Sandwell 191 17
Leeds 161 13
Sunderland 613 23