HC Deb 15 March 1993 vol 221 cc76-7W
Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the key steps which need to be undertaken by tenants who seek to take advantage of the tenants' choice legislation, and the anticipated maximum and minimum periods of time required to undertake each step.

Mr. Baldry

Tenants who wish to take advantage of the tenants' choice legislation should contact the Housing Corporation to discuss possible alternative landlords.

Once an alternative landlord has been chosen, the Housing Corporation will assess the level of tenant support. If there is sufficient support in principle for the proposed transfer, and the applicant landlord has met the corporation's requirements for approval, a formal tenants' choice application can be made to the local authority.

The legislation sets out a timetable for each of the statutory procedures which the parties are expected to observe.

Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many tenants' organisations have(a) obtained grants from his Department or from the Housing Corporation to assist in the investigation of tenants' choice, (b) sought such grants, but had their applications turned down, (c) sought such grants, but not had their applications determined and (d) achieved a management transfer under the tenants' choice legislation; and what is the average lapse of time between (a) and (d)

Mr. Baldry

My Department does not make grants directly to organisations to assist with tenants' choice. This is the responsibility of the Housing Corporation and I have therefore asked the corporation to reply to the hon. Member direct.

Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what powers he has to pay grants to organisations providing advice for local authority tenants; and if he will list the amount paid in grant under each power in the last year for which information is available.

Mr. Baldry

The Secretary of State has powers under section 429A of the Housing Act 1985 (as amended by section 16 of the Housing and Planning Act 1986) to offer financial assistance to persons managing public sector or former public sector housing and to persons seeking to facilitate or encourage improvements in, or providing services in connection with, the management of such housing.

Within this broad discretionary power the Department makes grants available to organisations which provide advice to local authority tenants on the range of options available to them for increased participation in the management of their housing.

Grants paid under this power during 1992–93 have totalled £5,318,730.

The Secretary of State also has prerogative power to make non-statutory grants to organisations providing advice to local authority tenants through the Department's special grants programme. No such schemes have been funded in this way in 1992–93.

Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the working of the tenants' choice legislation listing the types of new tenure or management available to local authority tenants, and the number of estates which have been transferred to each type of new tenure or management; and what plans he has to develop this policy.

Mr. Baldry

Tenants' choice gives local authority tenants who wish to continue renting their homes the opportunity to change their landlord. All applicant landlords must be approved by the Housing Corporation and can be a housing association, a tenant-controlled body or a commercial organisation.

There have been two transfers to date. In one the new landlord is a tenant-controlled housing association, which employs an existing housing association as a managing agent. In the other, the new landlord is an existing housing association.

The operation of the policy is kept under regular review.

Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those organisations that most frequently apply on behalf of tenants' organisations for grants to assist in the investigation of tenants' choice, those organisations which are paid to undertake such investigation or assist therewith; and how much has been paid to each such organisation in total for these and allied purposes, for the most recent period for which figures are available.

Mr. Baldry

This is a matter for the Housing Corporation rather than for my Department. I have therefore asked the corporation to reply to the hon. Member direct.