§ Dr. NaysmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will be running a further round of the Estates Renewal Challenge Fund; and when he will be inviting local authorities to apply for places on the 1998 Housing Transfer Disposal Programme. [6625]
§ Ms ArmstrongI will launch tomorrow Round Three of the Estates Renewal Challenge Fund and invite Local Authorities to apply for places on the 1998 Housing Transfer Disposal Programme. Transfer will remain a voluntary process and will take place only with the consent of tenants and the local authority.
Local authorities should consider housing transfer as one of the options when developing their housing strategy. Transfer can provide an effective and value for money means of getting investment into local authority housing. We want to see transfer delivering a high standard of service for tenants, providing decent and good quality homes.
Bids for money form the Estates Renewal Challenge Fund must also be set firmly within the context of authorities' housing strategies, and I am keen for authorities to package better and poorer quality housing together. This will enable more local authorities to revive and renew their worst estates. The Government is committed to improving standards of living and bringing back the sense of community which is so often lacking in large, poor quality estates.