§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the practice of local authorities writing off debts accrued by tenants in council-owned homes. [53102]
§ Ms KeebleThe Code of Accounting Practice applicable to local authorities requires them to write off debts known to be uncollectable. They are also required680W to make financial provision for the proportion of current debts which in due course are likely to turn out to be uncollectable.
Each local authority will, in addition, have procedures set out in their own financial regulations requiring proper authorisation for write offs.
Local authorities are obliged to obtain best value in carrying out their housing management functions. Performance, including that on rent collection, is reported annually to the public in an authority's best value performance plan.