§ Ms. PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the percentage increase in housing associations' rent for 1989–90 attributable to the new financial arrangements imposed for market rents on housing associations.
§ Mr. ChopeThis information is not available. But under the tenants' guarantee, housing associations are expected to set and maintain rents at levels which are within the reach of those in low-paid employment.
§ Mr. FraserTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take to reverse the downward trend in rehabilitation of older property by housing associations since passage of the Housing Act 1988.
§ Mr. ChopeHousing assocations can provide accommodation for low-income households in a variety of ways, including building new homes, acquiring satisfactory dwellings, and rehabilitation and conversion of older property. The new funding arrangements under the Housing Act 1988 are designed to sharpen the incentives to associations to give value for money, but not otherwise to affect their choice of scheme type. I shall shortly be considering with the Housing Corporation whether any adjustments are needed to the current pattern of grant rates for different types of scheme to ensure this.