Mr. HinchcliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the impact of the proposed reduction in housing association investment on the number of homes available for rent.
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesHousing associations can provide homes for rent through the Housing Corporation's approved development programme in two ways: new homes for rent funded by the rental programme; and lettings freed up by the corporation's home ownership initiatives which are targeted at existing public sector tenants. The Housing Corporation estimates that through 663W these programmes it will be able to provide over 46,000 new rented lettings in 1995–96. This compares with the estimate of 43,500 new rented lettings in 1995–96 published in December 1993.