§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce additions to the programme for housing transfers by councils in 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [27241]
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§ Mr. CurryI am pleased to announce that Cotswold district council has gained a place on the 1996 housing transfer programme. The authority aims, subject to the approval of its tenants, to transfer its stock of over 4,300 homes to Fosseway housing association by the end of March 1997.
The Government are committed to a continuing programme of transfers as a means of generating private finance to repair and improve the condition of social housing and to increase diversity and choice for tenants.
The inclusion of Cotswold raises the number of authorities on the 1996 programme to six, giving a revised programme of approximately 25,000 dwellings, valued at £223.6 million.
The 1995 transfer programme has been completed. Eleven authorities transferred almost 45,000 homes to housing associations, raising a total of £963 million in private sector funds.