HC Deb 06 May 2004 vol 420 c1681W
Mr. Borrow

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on how the change in the level of council funding for housing has affected the residents of South Ribble since 1997. [171283]

Mr. Raynsford

Since 1997 allocations of capital funding to local authorities for housing purposes have risen consistently by about 15 per cent. per annum on average. This includes the Major Repairs Allowance we introduced in 2001–02 specifically for the improvement of local authority stock alongside the Decent Homes standard which sets out minimum standards to be met by 2010. South Ribble transferred its housing stock to New Progress Housing Association in 1994 for £32.3 million. South Ribble's allocation for 2003–04 totalled £1.8 million.