To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria apply to local authorities for them to be eligible for assistance under the Local Authority Challenge Fund. (282421)

The £100 million funding for the scheme announced in the Budget to build new social housing is available for all local authorities provided they are building on their own land to at least Sustainable Building Code Level 3, though higher code levels will be encouraged. Schemes must also offer value for money. Authorities must have submitted their bids either by the end of July or the end of October this year and completed schemes by March 2011.