HC Deb 28 July 1998 vol 317 cc121-2W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what advice he received from the Housing Corporation with regard to social housing grant rates for 1999–2000, if he will publish that advice; and if he will make a statement. [52723]

Ms Armstrong

Policy advice of this nature is confidential.

I have recently written to the Housing Corporation asking them to set an average headline Social Housing Grant rate for 1999/2000 of 54 per cent., unchanged from last year despite continued reductions in long term interest rates. I have also asked the Corporation to put greater emphasis on rents in the bidding process and to change grant eligibility rules to disallow new high rent schemes, whether supported through the Approved Development Programme or Local Authority Social Housing Grant.