HC Deb 21 March 1997 vol 292 cc926-7W
Dr. Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if housing associations publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) minutes of meetings, (d) agendas of meetings and (e) registers of members' interests; and in each case whether this is under a statutory requirement. [21685]

Mr. Clappison

Registered social landlord are required by statute to provide a copy of their audited annual accounts to the Housing Corporation which holds them available for inspection. All other requirements are non-statutory. The main ones areThe tenants guarantee, which requires registered social landlords to keep their tenants informed about their housing management performance. Housing Corporation performance standards, under which associations are required to conduct their affairs in an open and accountable way, disseminating widely information about their housing provision and activities. The National Housing Federation's code of governance, which requires board members to declare conflicts of interest and registered social landlords to maintain records of interests of board members and senior staff and to make them available for public inspection.

Dr. Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the statutory basis of housing associations; and if they(a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings and (b) hold open meetings for the public; and whether in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [21768]

Mr. Clappison

Registered social landlords are independent non-profit making bodies, of which two-thirds are charities. There is no statutory requirement to admit members of the public to board or committee meetings, nor is there a statutory requirement to hold open meetings for the public.

Dr. Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if housing associations are subject to(a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission, (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office (d) statutory provisions for open government, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charter. [21765]

Mr. Clappison

Registered social landlords are not subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, the Audit Commission, or the National Audit Office. However, the Housing Corporation, which has a statutory responsibility to regulate all registered social landlords is subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner and scrutiny by the National Audit Office. Furthermore, under powers granted in the Housing Act 1996, the Audit Commission may undertake value for money studies for, and provide advice on audit matters to, the Housing Corporation.

The corporation's statutory duties include the requirement to publish information about the performance of registered social landlords in the form of performance indicators.

There are no statutory provisions for open government which apply to registered social landlords.

Registered social landlords are eligible to apply for charter mark awards, and last year nine received awards.