Mr. Beaumont-Dark asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his policy towards housing in the public sector in the light of the Audit Commission's recent report entitled "Managing the Crisis in Council Housing", and, in particular, its reference to the relative amount spent by local authorities on their administrative costs, on the one hand, and on their housing management, on the other.

My views are supported by the Audit Commission, and I commend to all local authorities the report "Managing the Crisis in Council Housing".

Mr. Rooker asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards the proposal by the Audit Commission in the report entitled "Managing the Crisis in Council Housing" for a housing staff college.

Mr. Rooker asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has decided his policy towards the proposal by the Audit Commission in the report, "Managing the Crisis in Council Housing", for a housing staff college.

Mr. Rooker asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to collect information in the same form as the Audit Commission used in its report, "Managing the Crisis in Council Housing", on the numbers of empty local authority dwellings which are available for letting.

Mr. Rooker asked the Secretary of State for Environment if he has decided his policy towards the proposal by the Audit Commission in the report, "Managing the Crisis in Council Housing", for a housing staff college.

Nor is the position helped by the fact, spelt out in the Audit Commission's report "Managing the Crisis in Council Housing", that many local authorities have fixed rent at levels that are simply insufficient to keep buildings in good repair.

I wish that more local authorities would adopt the Commission's recommendations for good management practicn e as set out in its two publications: "Managing the Crisis in Council Housing" and "Improving Council House Maintenance".