MPs back 'keep stock' calls

TRADE unionists in East Lancashire are calling for the transfer of council homes to private housing associations to be scrapped - and more money given to local authorities instead.

Members of the Hyndburn and Rossendale Trade Union Council have been backed in their stance by local MPs Janet Anderson and Lindsay Hoyle.

Hyndburn Council is currently consulting with tenants living in its 3,000-plus homes about passing them over to a housing association, such as Twin Valley Homes, which controls Blackburn with Darwen Council's former housing stock.

And Ribble Valley Council has announced it is to carry out a 'stock options' review to decide what is the best way for the future.

All three councils have used the argument that housing associations have better chances of accessing the millions needed to improve council houses.

They can get specialist Government grants and mortgages from building societies, which council's can't.

The motion in the Commons that Mrs Anderson has signed calls for direct investment in houses to go via councils, instead of through so-called stock transfer.

It calls on the Government to give local authorities a level playing field by offering them the same support housing associations get.

They pointed out that council houses can pay for themselves but privatisation brings with it debt write-offs and subsidy grants, which place a huge burden on local authorities.