§ Mr. HopkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the cost is to the Department of writing off the over-hanging debt for local authorities transferring their housing stock to RSLs in(a) the current year and (b) each of the past five years; and what the projected cost is in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04. [46363]
§ Ms Keeble[holding answer 26 March 2002]: The overhanging debt payments made to date are £21 million in 1999–2000 and £256 million in 2000–01. No payments were made in 2001–02. The projected costs are £500 million in 2002–03 and £800 million in 2003–04. These are estimates and are likely to change as details of transfer proposals are finalised.