HC Deb 07 February 1996 vol 271 cc201-3W
Mr. Ashby

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the names of the authorities to be included in the programme for housing transfers by councils in 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [14299]

Mr. Curry

I am today announcing the names of the five authorities that will be able to proceed, on a voluntary basis and subject to the approval of their tenants, with proposals to transfer their housing stock to private sector landlords in 1996–97. The programme of large-scale voluntary transfers will comprise almost 21,000 dwellings valued at £172 million.

This reflects the Government's commitment 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 five authorities which have successfully gained a place on the programme, together with the intended recipient housing associations are as follows:

  1. (a) Berwick-upon-Tweed borough council (2,750 dwellings) to Berwick Housing Associations;
  2. (b) Lichfield district council (4,955 dwellings) to Lichfield District Housing Association;
  3. (c) South Staffordshire district council (5,354 dwellings) to South Staffordshire Housing Association;
  4. (d) Stratford-on-Avon district council (5,800 dwellings) to South Warwickshire Housing Association;
  5. (e) West Wiltshire district council (1,958 dwellings) to West Wiltshire Housing Society.

To date, 45 authorities have disposed of all or part of their stock to new landlords and seven more are due to do so by the end of this financial year. In addition to the five authorities listed above, other authorities are working up proposals to transfer. There will be opportunities to add them to the 1996 programme if they make good progress with their proposals over the coming months.

The Government are committed to a continuing programme of transfers and to extending the benefits of transfer to urban and non-traditional housing. We also intend to widen the range of recipient landlords from traditional housing associations to local housing companies, subject to Parliament approving the Housing Bill, and to private sector companies, subject to future legislation. Transfers will remain voluntary and require tenant support, as they do now.