HC Deb 29 January 1996 vol 270 cc578-9W
Mr. Raynsford

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much expenditure was incurred by(a) the Housing Corporation and (b) the local authority in relation to each of the proposals for a transfer of tenanted council housing in Torquay to another landlord since 1988; and what were the numbers and percentages of tenants voting (i) for and (ii) against each proposal. [11714]

Mr. Curry

The available information is as follows.

In January 1989, Torbay borough council balloted tenants on its proposal for a large-scale voluntary transfer of 3,425 dwellings to two housing associations. Fifty-nine per cent. of the eligible tenants voted in the ballot, of whom 27 per cent. were in favour of transfer and 73 per cent. voted against.

In August 1995, 1,971 eligible tenants were balloted on three separate proposals by the Torbay tenants' housing association to take over property in Torquay, Paignton and Brixham under part IV of the Housing Act 1988. Details are in the table.

Area covered by bid Eligible tenants Number (percentage) Votes cast Ballot result (expressed as percentage of eligible tenants)
Against For
Torquay 986 902 (92) 844 (86) 58 (6)
Paignton1 715 667 (93) 588 (82) 77 (11)
Brixham 270 254 (94) 239 (86) 15 (6)
Total 1,971 (100) 1,823 (93) 1,671 (85) 150 (8)
1Two tenants indicated an express wish to abstain.

The Housing Corporation's total grant spend on the Torbay tenants' housing association was £1,546,866. The local authority's costs amounted to £650,000.

Mr. Raynsford

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for a transfer of tenanted council properties to another landlord under the provisions of part IV of the Housing Act 1988 have been made since 1988; how many tenancies have been involved; and what was the outcome of the tenants' ballot in each case. [11713]

Mr. Curry

Since part IV of the Housing Act 1988 came into force in 1989, there have been nine applications for a transfer of property, seven of which progressed to a ballot of tenants. The available information on these applications is contained in the table.

Mr. Raynsford

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total cost to public funds to date of the tenants' advice scheme set up under part IV of the Housing Act 1988 with particular reference to(a) setting up costs incurred by his Department and the Housing Corporation, (b) publicity and promotional expenditure, (c) annual revenue expenditure incurred by the Housing Corporation in each year since 1988, (d) grants to tenants' organisations and others and (e) any other expenditure. [11715]

Mr. Curry

The Housing Corporation's total salary costs for tenants' choice activities between 1988–89 and 1994–95 amounted to £2,001,913. Since the scheme's introduction in 1989, the Housing Corporation total grant spend in support of tenants' choice cases has been £3,826,853. The further information requested is not available.