To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much housing revenue has been transferred from each local housing authority to central government in each of the last three years; and what methodology his Department uses to redistribute such funds to local authorities. (292918)

[holding answer 14 October 2009]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 9 September 2009, Official Report, column 2006W.

The methodology employed for establishing subsidy payments to, and receipts due, from local authorities is set out in detail within the HRA Manual, which is available on the Communities and Local Government website, and annual Determinations issued by the Department. Each local authority’s guideline rental income and estimated need to spend on their properties are calculated on the basis of data supplied by the authorities. The results of these calculations are published by the Department annually in the Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Determination. Payments to or from the Exchequer are made in 10 instalments through the year.