To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities have implemented large scale voluntary housing transfers in each year since 1997. (264997)

The following table lists the number of local authorities that have undertaken large scale voluntary transfer of housing stock in each financial year since 1997. The figure for 2008-09 is the number we expect to complete transfers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost to the public purse of large-scale voluntary transfers of housing stock was in each year since 1997. (264999)

The Department does not keep any central records of the total cost of large-scale voluntary transfers to local authorities.

Two separate payments can be made when a local authority transfers its housing stock to a registered social landlord (RSL).

If a local authority's attributable housing debt is not cleared either in part or in entirety by receipts from an RSL through Large Scale Voluntary Transfer (LSVT) arrangements, the debt that remains is transferred from the local authority sector to central Government through a payment made to the Public Works Loan Board. Overhanging debt (OHD) payments to the Public Works Loan Board under these debt transfer arrangements since 2000-01 are shown in the following table. The Department began payments to the PWLB in 2000-01.

Grant funding payments can be made to RSLs taking negatively valued housing stock from local authorities under LSVT arrangements. Since 1 December 2008, the Homes and Communities Agency has assumed responsibility for the housing transfer programme and will continue to make payments as required.

These gap funding grant payments enable RSLs to lever in sufficient private finance to enable full Decent Homes investment programmes to be undertaken after transfer. Gap funding payments by the Department to registered social landlords to support large scale voluntary transfers commenced in 2004-05. The following table sets out those payments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's liability relating to annual gap-funding agreements for negative value transfers of council housing stock was in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. (265084)

Gap funding grant payments by the Department to registered social landlords taking negatively valued housing stock under Large Scale Voluntary Transfer arrangements commenced in 2004-05. Responsibility for the housing transfer programme passed to the Homes and Communities Agency on 1 December 2008, who assumed responsibility for these grants, making payments from that date. In 2008-09, we expect that grant payments of around £120 million to be made in respect of gap funding agreements entered into for that year.

The following table sets out the gap funding grant expenditure in each year.