§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local authorities have implemented large scale voluntary housing transfers (LSVTs) since682W 1997; how many have been rejected by tenants; how many have put up proposals for large scale voluntary transfers; and how many have not yet registered their interest. [126421]
§ Keith Hill86 local authorities have completed 117 large scale voluntary transfers since 1 April 1997. During this period, tenants have not supported the transfer proposal in 23 ballots. There are 38 transfer schemes in progress. Housing transfer is one of three options available to authorities for meeting the decent home target where additional resources are required. By July 2005, all stock-owning authorities are required to have completed an investment option appraisal, with the full involvement of tenants, to decide on the best means of meeting the decent home target for their stock. These investment option appraisals must be signed off by the relevant Government Office for the Regions.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many applications for large scale voluntary transfers of council housing have been accepted by his Department; and what arrangements at what cost have been made in each case for write-off or reduction of overcharging housing debt; [126422]
(2) how much he estimates will be provided in (a) this and (b) the next financial year (i) to write off overhanging housing debt for local authorities who privatise their housing stock and (ii) for council house repairs and renovations in those authorities in the same years. [126559]
§ Keith HillThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has accepted 268 applications for large-scale voluntary transfer of council housing since 1988. When an authority transfers all its housing stock it is expected to use the receipt to meet any debt liability. Of the 173 transfers that have taken place to date, there have been 10 transfers where the receipt was insufficient and the office made an overhanging debt payment. The payments are tabled as follows:
Financial year Local authority £ million 1999–2000 Burnley 21.0 2001–02 Coventry 111.7 2001–02 Calderdale 64.6 2001–02 Blackburn with Darwen 78.9 2002–03 St. Helens 87.2 2002–03 Redcar and Cleveland 25.4 2002–03 Knowsley 126.1 2002–03 Carlisle 18.0 2002–03 Bradford 182.8 2002–03 Walsall 108.7 The projected overhanging debt payments have reduced to £24 million for 2003–04 and are estimated at £500 million for 2004–05. These are likely to change as details of transfer proposals are finalised. These payments reflect the liability the office would have had to meet as ongoing Housing Revenue Account (HRA) subsidy if these authorities retained their stock. In respect of the authorities liable to require overhanging debt payments over the two years concerned, the total estimated provision for the Major Repairs Allowances (MRA) within the Housing Revenue Account subsidy is £124.2 million in 2003–04 and £122.3 million in 2004–05.
683W
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proposals he has for issuing to each tenant balloted in large scale voluntary housing transfers a statement of the benefits they will receive from a yes vote and the extra spending it will bring for repairs and improvements. [126423]
§ Keith HillNone. Local authorities are required by section 106, and schedule 3A to, the Housing Act 1985 to serve notice of the details of the transfer proposal, including the identity of the new landlord and the likely consequences of the disposal for the tenant, to all secure and introductory tenants.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what sanctions are imposed on housing associations which do not fulfil promises made to tenants in large scale voluntary transfers of council housing; what redress is available to tenants in the event of such transfers; and how many complaints have been made to his Department about such purchases in the last five years. [126425]
§ Keith HillThe Housing Corporation is responsible for regulating all Registered Social Landlords (RSLs), commonly known as housing associations. RSLs are required to adhere to the Housing Corporation's
Price per dwelling, in large scale voluntary transfers since April 2001 Authority Date of transfer Price per dwelling (£)1 Derbyshire Dales 4 March 2002 7,616 Chelmsford BC 11 March 2002 11,530 East Hertfordshire DC (split transfer) 18 March 2002 11,937 13,725 Erewash BC 25 March 2002 6,460 Reigate and Banstead BC 25 March 2002 13,212 St. Edmundsbury 24 June 2002 7,489 Vale Royal BC 1 July 2002 7,462 St. Helen's MBC 1 July 2002 1,974 Redcar and Cleveland BC 15 July 2002 5,180 Knowsley MBC 15 July 2002 1,794 LB Waltham Forest 30 September 2002 832 LB Hackney cc sheltered stock 14 October 2002 -1,514 LB Harrow 14 October 2002 -3,642 Manchester cc Langley Estate 18 November 2002 -342 County of Herefordshire C 25 November 2002 6,945 Carlisle CC 9 December 2002 1,803 Rushcliffe BC 20 January 2003 12,934 Liverpool CC Eastern Fringe (south) 23 January 2003 1,800 Liverpool CC Eastern Fringe (central) 30 January 2003 -1,378 City of Bradford 24 February 2003 2,831 Amber Valley BC 24 February 2003 5,077 Crewe and Nantwich BC 10 March 2003 6,181 Liverpool CC 10 March 2003 -728 Oldham MBC Limeside (Hollins/The Avsnues) 17 March 2003 -1,577 Walsall MBC (majority of stock) 27 March 2003 1,026 Walsall MBC (tenant managed stock) 27 March 2003 -0.03 Craven DC 31 March 2003 5,201 Forest of Dean DC 31 March 2003 6,849 North Hertfordshire DC 31 March 2003 3,128 1 Negative value figures indicate a dowry payment from the local authority to the acquiring registered social landlord.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether consultants and tenants' friends employed on large scale voluntary transfer proposals for council housing are(a) approved, (b) nominated and (c) paid for by his Department; what steps he takes to ensure their impartiality; and whether any have recommended that the large scale voluntary transfer should not proceed. [126561]
684WRegulatory Code and guidance which sets out minimum standards in the three areas of governance, financial viability and management of services to tenant. It also has a number of general and specific powers to take action is respect of housing associations.
All housing associations registered with the Corporation must have procedures to deal with complaints from tenants fairly and effectively. Once tenants have been through this procedure, they can bring the matter to the attention of the Independent Housing Ombudsman. There is no formal procedure for complaints to be made to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister or investigated by it.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much was paid to each local authority per council house that has opted for large scale voluntary transfer of its council stock in each of the last two years. [126558]
§ Keith HillTo reflect the intended continued use of the properties for social housing the price paid to each local authority per council house accords with a Tenanted Market Value (TMV) rather than an open market value. Tabled are the price paid per dwelling in each large scale voluntary transfer since April 2001 in accordance with this valuation method.
§ Keith HillBoth consultants and tenant advisers are employed and paid for by the local authority. Office of the Deputy Prime Minister guidance is that they should be chosen through a competitive process. The role of the tenant adviser is to offer impartial advice and support to the tenants and leaseholders about the proposals being draw up. This is set out in guidance on the recruitment 685W and role of the tenant adviser issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
The nature of any work being undertaken by a consultant will depend on the nature of the contract with the local authority. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister would not necessarily know where a consultant had advised an authority.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) whether publicity polling and consultancy fees for voluntary transfers of council housing stock can be financed out of the local housing revenue account;[126565]
(2) what estimate he has made of the costs of publicity polling, publishing information, consultancy fees and preparation and polling processes for large scale voluntary transfer of council housing pools over the last 12 months; and how much of this has been paid for by (a) local authorities and (b) central Government. [126568]
§ Keith HillExpenditure incurred in carrying out the statutory consultation required under section 106A of the Housing Act 1985, including the cost of any ballot, is considered to be in connection with the management of dwellings held within the Housing Management Account and therefore must be charged to that account.
No payment is made by central Government towards the cost of such consultation and figures for the total expenditure on this by local authorities are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.