To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the proposed Office for Tenants and Social Landlords will (a) set targets for local authorities which have housing stock and (b) have power to inspect local authorities which have housing stock. (176195)

I announced on 15 October 2007 that an independently chaired advisory panel will carry out further work with stakeholders in order that the Office for Tenants and Social Landlords should regulate local authorities’ social housing management functions within two years of it commencing its’ operations. Decisions on the nature of the regulatory framework will be made in due course upon consideration of the panel’s recommendations.