§ Mr. SternTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the names of the authorities to be included in the programme for housing transfers by councils in 1993–94.
§ Sir George YoungI am today announcing the names of the 13 local authorities that will be able to proceed with proposals to transfer their housing stock, on a voluntary basis subject to the approval of their tenants, to housing associations during 1993–94, in the first year of the new annual transfer programme.
I am delighted that 22 authorities responded to our invitation and am pleased that, because of lower than anticipated Exchequer costs of disposal, it has proved possible to programme 43,000 dwellings compared to the 25,000 dwellings I mentioned when I announced the programme arrangements last February.
The 13 authorities which have successfully gained a place on the 1993–94 disposals programme, together with the intended recipient housing associations are as follows:
- Castle Morpeth District Council (3,430 dwellings) to Cheviot Housing Association;
- Epsom and Ewell Borough Council (1,773 dwellings) to Rosebury Housing Association;
- Hambleton District Council (4,262 dwellings) to Hambleton Housing Association;
- Hart District Council (2,504 dwellings) to Hart Housing Association;
- Havant Borough Council (3,587 dwellings) to Hermitage Housing Association;
- Leominster District Council (1,874 dwellings) to Leomister Marches Housing Association;
- Maidstone Borough Council (4,040 dwellings) to Hazlitt Housing Associations and (4,009) dwellings to Lenway Housing Association;
- Mendip District Council (5,262 dwellings) to Mendip Housing Association;
- Penwith District Council (3,431 dwellings) to Penwith Housing Association;
- Rother District Council (3,479 dwellings) to Downland Housing Association;
- South Ribble District Council (3,600 dwellings) to Progress Housing Association;
- South Shropshire District Council (1,632 dwellings) to South Shropshire Housing Association; and
- Westminster (partial transfer of 649 dwellings) to the Peabody Trust.
The programme comprises some 43,000 dwellings in total, valued at more than £375 million.
Clause 121 of the Housing and Urban Development Bill, currently before Parliament, enables the Secretary of State to control housing stock disposals through such an annual programme. The Bill also contains transitional provisions which allow my right hon. and learned Friend to ensure that the necessary arrangements are in place for the introduction of the first year's programme, once the Bill has received Royal Assent.