HC Deb 20 November 1991 vol 199 cc157-8W
Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice has been given by regional controllers to local authorities concerning the treatment of funding required for new build projects, in negotiations on the level of housing investment programmes for the next financial year.

Mr. Yeo

The Department's housing regional controllers remind local authorities during annual discussions on housing investment programmes of the Government's policy that they should fulfil in the main an enabling role in their area, and should concentrate their efforts on the renovation of their own stock. Scarce resources should be directed to where they will be best employed or where best value for money may be obtained, for example by taking advantage of private finance through sponsoring housing associations' developments.