Regional Housing Boards: Freedom of Information

Mrs. Spelman
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the regional housing boards will remain subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 when they are merged with the regional assemblies in England; and if she will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly
As voluntary bodies, Regional Assemblies are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Nevertheless the Government expects the Assemblies to comply with the spirit of the Act when they perform their designated functions, as set out in “Guidance on the General Principles of Designation of Voluntary Regional Assemblies”.