§ Mr. CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what further consultations he proposes on the detail of his proposals to reform local authority housing finance. [101417]
§ Mr. RaynsfordImproving local authority financial accounting is an important part of our agenda to modernise local government. As part of our plan to introduce resource accounting to local authority housing finance, we intend to remove rent rebates from the Housing Revenue Account (HRA). Today I have published a consultation paper asking for views on the details of how this could be done. Removing rent rebates from the HRA will make councils housing finances simpler and more transparent. It will be easier for local residents to see how money is being spent, increasing openness and accountability. Copies of the new consultation paper have been placed in the Library of the House. We published two other consultation papers earlier in the month on other aspects of improving local authority housing finance.