§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will provide local authorities with the detailed arrangements for creating arm's-length companies and for raising levels of investment in their housing stock. [129260]
§ Mr. RaynsfordWe outlined in the Housing Green Paper proposals to allow authorities which have set up arm's-length companies to manage their housing stock and demonstrate high standards to invest more of their rental income in their stock. As the Green Paper promised, we will be working with the Local Government Association and others to work up the proposals in greater detail over the coming months. We will consult on our proposals later this year and have guidance in place in the early part of 2001.
§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how long it will take local authorities to invest in their housing stock through the creation of arm's-length companies; what assessment he has made of the contribution this will make in tackling the investment backlog in local authority housing within five years; and if he will make a statement. [129259]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe additional resources to be made available for authorities which have set up arm's-length companies to manage their housing stock and demonstrate high standards will be announced as part of the Spending Review. We expect that the first year in which the new regime will operate will be 2002–03. In the meantime, authorities considering this option will need to undertake detailed preparation to enable them to meet the demanding criteria which will apply. Our overall aim, set out in the Housing Green Paper, is to ensure that all social housing reaches a decent standard within 10 years.