HC Deb 22 October 2003 vol 411 c568W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the role that the Audit Commission plays in advising local authorities who are undertaking large scale voluntary transfer of their housing stock. [133636]

Keith Hill

Where the Audit Commission, through the district audit service, is an authority's external auditor, it is a resource that is available to an authority. Therefore, it could advise on the implications of, and risks that, an authority faces in implementing any of the options for delivery of the decent home target for social housing, one of which is to undertake a large scale voluntary transfer.

Mr. Drew

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish the advice given to local authorities on communications strategies for those authorities which are undertaking large scale voluntary transfer of their housing stock. [133637]

Keith Hill

Advice to local authorities on drawing up their communication strategies for Large Scale Voluntary Transfers is contained in section 4 of the Housing Transfer Manual 2003, published in March 2003.