§ Mr. SpellarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what analysis his Department has undertaken of the likely impact of the Government's proposal to reduce housing association grant to 55 per cent. by 1995 on new housing association rents in the west midlands;
(2) what estimate has been made of the percentage of new housing association tenants in the west midlands who would be totally reliant on housing benefit if housing association grant rates are reduced to 55 per cent. by 1995;
(3) what proposals the Government have to maintain the flow of private sector funding into social housing schemes in the west midlands in connection with the proposed reduction of housing association grant rates by 1995.
§ Mr. BaldryThe Government have announced their objective of reducing the average housing association grant rate in England from the current year's level of 67 per cent. to 60 per cent. in 1994–95 and 55 per cent. in 1995–96.
Final decisions will be taken when Ministers have considered all the relevant evidence, including the likely impact on rents, on housing benefit and the availability of private finance. No decisions about grant rates for 1995–96 will be taken until much closer to the time.