§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what criteria the Housing Corporation used in determining the 1996–97 grant allocations apart from the guidelines in the bidding forum and the regional policy statement; [21238]
(2) what influence Housing Corporation regional directors have in allocating Housing Corporation grant; and to what extent this influence was applied in the 1996–97 allocations; [21239]
(3) what criteria apply to schemes seeking Housing Corporation funding where standards exceeded the published scheme work development standards; [21240]
(4) what guidelines the Housing Corporation issues to local authorities in regard to competition between associations for Housing Corporation funding; [21242]
(5) what consultation arrangements on investment priorities with individual associations and local authorities is undertaken by the Housing Corporation. [21243]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe Housing Corporation's regional directors are responsible for allocating approved development programme resources within their regions in response to competitive bids from housing associations. They do so within a policy and procedural framework which, for 1996–97, was published by the corporation in its:
- 1. "Guide to the Allocation Process"
- 2. Regional Policy Statements
- 3. "invitation bid" letter.
Prior to publishing the above documents at the start of the 1996–97 bidding process, the corporation issued to local authorities and housing associations a consultation paper "Competing for Grant" which set out its proposed framework and criteria for competition including, inter alia, proposals for dealing with schemes where standards exceed the published scheme development standards. Where higher standards are proposed, corporation regional directors assess their relevance to the client group and schemes in question, and their cost-effectiveness, in arriving at their value for money judgments.
Local authorities are expected to involve housing associations in drawing up their housing strategies in accordance with the housing investment programme guidance issued annually by the Department. The Housing Corporation discusses the investment priorities arising from the strategies with local authorities, and publishes the outcome of these discussions in the regional policy statements. Following receipt of bids, and prior to 211W finalising investment decisions, corporation regional directors and their staff discuss with local authorities the proposed allocations.