HC Deb 31 January 2002 vol 379 cc442-3W
Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the average change in annual revenue available for financing investment in Birmingham's housing revenue account as a result `of the Government's rent restructuring proposals, based on(a) the continuation of the current subsidy system and (b) the abolition of the council tenant's tax. [30353]

Ms Keeble

Local authorities are responsible for setting their own rents and budgets—including the resources to be devoted to investment—based on local priorities and other factors. There is no council tenant's tax.

Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answers of 10 December 2001,Official Report, column 573W, on housing (Birmingham), what his definition of debt financing charges is. [30389]

Ms Keeble

The figures I provided in my previous answer related to the amount the Department made available to Birmingham in housing revenue account subsidy towards the administration costs of managing its debt finance. We do not have figures for the cost to Birmingham city council of servicing their housing attributable debt.

Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what information he has collated on housing management costs per dwelling for(a) all local authority housing, (b) all RSL housing, (c) all metropolitan authority housing, (d) Birmingham city council housing and (e) RSL housing in Birmingham. [30391]

Ms Keeble

On the basis of the definition used for the purposes of best value and Audit Commission Performance Indicators for 2000–01, the average annual management cost per dwelling for all local authorities in England was £654. The average for all metropolitan authority housing was £496 and the average for Birmingham city council housing was £634. The Housing Corporation produces figures for the RSL sector. The average annual management cost per dwelling for the largest 400 English RSLs in 2000–01 was £536. No figures are available for all RSL housing in Birmingham.

Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the change in the annual cost to(a) Birmingham city council's non-HRA revenue budget and (b) the Exchequer of financing housing benefit for Birmingham tenants if transfer of the local authority housing stock to a registered social landlord goes ahead. [30350]

Ms Keeble

The estimated housing benefit cost over three years to be contributed from Birmingham city council's general fund is £17.14 million.

The estimated Exchequer contribution to housing benefit cost for Birmingham tenants if transfer of the local authority housing stock to registered social landlord goes ahead is £63.63 million over 30 years.