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<p> </p><p><em>[Holding Reply: Thursday 7 November 2013]</em></p><p>The figures for
affordable housing are as follows for the London Borough of Harrow area:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>2008-09</p></td><td><p>£22
million</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009-10</p></td><td><p>£45 million</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>£26
million</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>£15 million</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>£13
million</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Since April 2012, allocations from the Affordable
Housing Programme have been overseen by the Greater London Authority rather than the
Homes and Communities Agency. There have been no specific allocations on empty homes
over this period.</p><p>As outlined to the hon. Member in the answer of 7 January
2013, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 121W, I would note that the new Affordable
Rent model now allows for more affordable housing to be delivered with lower levels
of taxpayer capital subsidy and lever in more private investment.</p><p>As the National
Audit Office has observed: “The Department selected the best delivery model open to
it for the funds it had available” and “The Department has so far achieved its policy
objective to maximise the number of homes delivered within the available grant funding”
(National Audit Office, “Financial viability of the social housing sector; introducing
the Affordable Homes Programme”, 4 July 2012, HC465, pp.6-7).</p><p>I also note that
the Mayor's proposed Housing Strategy states: “£1.8 billion of public funding has
been secured by the Mayor which will unlock an estimated additional £3.7 billion of
other investment for London to enable 55,000 affordable homes to be delivered between
2011-15” (Mayor of London, “The Revised London Housing Strategy”, December2011, p.35).</p><p>Across
England, 170,000 affordable homes have been delivered so far since April 2010, and
a total of £19.5 billion of public and private investment is being spent on affordable
housing over the current Spending Review period.</p><p> </p><p><em> </em></p><p> </p>
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