ODPM SELECT COMMITTEE REPORT ON THE DECENT HOMES TARGET

Early day motion 1337, tabled 9 June 2004 by Harry Cohen (Labour). Signed by 121 members.

That this House notes the publication of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Select Committee report which calls into question the Government's strategy on meeting the Decent Homes Target; further notes the report is supported by the Local Government Association, UNISON, ASPE and the Local Government Information Unit; shares the concerns expressed in critical reports by the Public Accounts Committee and the National Audit Office on the cost effectiveness of stock transfer; welcomes the Committee's recommendation that there should be a level playing field in the local authority stock options appraisal process, which currently incentivises stock transfer, PFI schemes or arms length management organisations; believes that the Government should make adequate funding arrangements for repairs and maintenance where tenants vote for their local authority to retain the housing stock; and urges the Government to provide an investment allowance as a revenue stream that can be used to finance borrowing using local authority's new right to borrow under the prudential framework.

Signatures by party: Labour 88, Liberal Democrat 23, Labour/Co-operative 6, DUP 1, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.