§ Dr. IddonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will ensure that local authorities receive their full management and maintenance allowance for council-owned homes. [11997]
§ Mr. RaynsfordIn calculating each authority's entitlement to housing revenue account subsidy, the allowance made for expenditure on management takes account of a target management and maintenance score determined annually for each authority based on a number of indicators including the characteristics of its stock. Allowances for individual authorities are calculated to move gradually towards the target figures thus ensuring no dramatic changes in subsidy entitlement from one year to the next.
We will be making proposals later this year on HRA subsidy for 1998–99. We shall consult local authorities on the draft HRA subsidy determination in the normal way.
We are considering all aspects of the financing of local authority housing as part of the comprehensive spending review. It will see that taxpayers' money is being spent effectively in order to fulfil the Government's manifesto commitments.