JOHN D Farrer (Letters, November 18) - Hyndburn Council does need to spell out the financial implications of housing stock transfer.

Far from neglecting to do so, it has made detailed financial information available at 22 public meetings over the last four weeks. Whether the council's stock were to be transferred to a specially created local housing company or to an existing housing association, the council would still get a payment based on the condition and future rental income of the tenanted properties.

This would be used to pay off the council's outstanding housing debt. At this stage, the valuation or price has not been calculated. If it isn't high enough to repay all of the debt the council will ask the Government to continue to give it subsidy to cover the debt charges.

G M SARKAR, Head of Community Regeneration, Hyndburn Council.

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