HC Deb 01 March 1991 vol 186 cc634-5W
Mr. Gwilym Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the progress of the priority estates project in Wales.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

I was pleased to have had the opportunity of addressing the PEP conference, "Quality Matters", on 15 February to launch the report, "Locally Based Housing Services—Winning Customer Approval". I have placed copies in the Library of the House.

The report reviews the entire PEP programme in Wales. It draws on key findings from previous reports, and especially from last year's surveys of PEP tenants' views about their homes and estates, and of the housing service they receive.

PEP was intended to put tenants in the lead as regards decisions affecting their homes by decentralising local authorities' housing management and making it more customer-oriented. It has shown that decentralised management brings real improvement in performance; that tenants view localised services as providing good value for money; that targeting investment in response to tenants' wishes maximises its effect; and that tenant participation is an integral part of effect management.

Several local authorities in the programme, and many others, too, have embarked upon wider centralisation of their housing management since PEP commenced. We estimate that up to 40 per cent. of council houses in Wales now receive a locally based housing service more or less along PEP lines.

I commend the report to local authorities throughout Wales, as I am sure that they will find it valuable in pursuing further improvements in the management of their stock.