§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will approve and support the operation of housing bond guarantee schemes in 1995–96 and subsequently.
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesIf the hon. Member is referring to schemes under which local authorities provide rent deposits or equivalent indemnities to private sector landlords, the Government believe that they have a very useful role to play in helping people in housing need to secure accommodation. We are consulting the local authority associations about a general consent for local authorities to operate these schemes.