§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans his Department has to decentralise non-departmental public bodies that are affiliated to his Department and devolve their responsibilities to local authorities. [79667]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThere are currently no plans to decentralise the work of Non-Departmental Public Bodies to local authorities. The Housing Corporation has long had regional offices.
In the case of the four Housing Action Trusts, the relevant local authority is represented on each board by 1–3 Councillors and tenants have the right to choose the Council or a Registered Social Landlord as their future landlord.
We also plan to introduce new arrangements to strengthen links, at regional level between housing, planning and economic development strategies. These arrangements include the introduction of a single regional pot for resources for housing investment.