HC Deb 15 March 1993 vol 221 cc86-7W
Mr. Hinchcliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list local authorities with a negative housing subsidy entitlement;

(2) which local authorities have a negative housing entitlement for housing revenue account subsidy purposes in the latest financial year; and if he will list the cash value of this negative entitlement.

Mr. Baldry

I have placed in the Library of the House a copy of the table showing the information requested by the hon. Member.

Mr. Hinchcliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in how many housing authorities he expects rents to rise as a direct result of changes in housing revenue account subsidy; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Baldry

The effect of the ring-fencing of the housing revenue account (HRA) is that, as a general rule, to maintain the same level of services-housing authorities have to increase actual rents in response to annual increases in the Government's HRA subsidy guideline rents. For 1993–94, guideline rents are set to increase by a minimum of £1.50 and a maximum of £3.00 per week. Decisions about the actual level of rents and services remain ones for housing authorities.