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An evidence session for the Council Housing Group is announced |
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Written by Austin Mitchell
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03 March 2005 |
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The House of Commons Council Housing Group of MPs is holding its third evidence taking session next Tuesday (8 March) as part of its inquiry to demonstrate support for the ‘fourth option’ for council housing. MPs will be hearing evidence from tenants, councillors, council officers and trade unions.
Government policy is to offer choice in public services but this denies council tenants the choice to remain with the council and get improvements to their homes. Councils who require extra investment are being told there are only three options: stock transfer, PFI or Arms Length Management Organisations.
There is strong cross party support for the ‘fourth option’- direct investment in council housing. More than 250 MPs have signed one or more Early Day Motions supporting direct investment. The call for a ‘fourth option’, was boosted by the 8:1 vote last September’s Labour Party conference for a ‘level playing field’ for council housing.
On Tuesday MPs will hear evidence from delegations of tenants, councillors, council officers and trade unionists. The first session last May was attended by more than 150 people with delegations from 26 areas giving verbal evidence. Ten areas recently gave evidence at a session in Gateshead. The group has also received written evidence from some 30 plus authorities.
Fourth Option for Council Housing inquiry: 12-4pm March 8, Jubilee Room, House of Commons, St Stephens Entrance, Westminster.
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Note for Editors:
In the 17 years since 1988 only half of the councils in England, one authority in Wales and a small minority of Scottish authorities have privatised their homes.
Around 125 English authorities have still not announced their preferred stock option. The last government has set a deadline of July 2005 but has already given the largest English authority, Birmingham, dispensation to miss it.
More local authorities are announcing that they intend to keep their homes after consulting their tenants. |
