The terms of this inquiry
10. With the April 2004 milestone in terms of the
PSA target for social housing upon us, it is an appropriate time
to take stock and evaluate progress towards the target as well
as its parameters and processes. There is now sufficient experience
on the ground to assess the problems as well as the benefits of
the target. There is however, little time to address problems
or avoid unintended consequences. The terms of reference that
we set ourselves for the inquiry were to evaluate:
"how this target is to be achieved, looking
in particular at:
1. The definition of 'decent';
2. The scale of the problem;
3. The various mechanisms for funding and delivery
- stock transfer, PFI, Arm's Length Management Organisations,
and Council housing;
4. The implications of the PSA Plus Review undertaken
in 2003 and the recent studies by the National Audit Office and
Audit Commission;
5. The role of tenant choice; and
6. The link between the Decent Homes target and
other parts of the Government's Sustainable Communities agenda.
11. The Committee received 67 memoranda from a very
wide range of stakeholders. We held four oral evidence sessions,
taking oral evidence from 23 different groups and organisations
as well as the Minister for Housing and officials from the Office
of the Deputy Prime Minister. We are very grateful to our specialist
advisers, Peter Chapman and John Bryson. The Committee was also
supported throughout the inquiry by staff at the Scrutiny Unit.
The Committee wishes to thank all those who gave evidence to the
Decent Homes inquiry, both orally and in writing.
1 ODPM: Quality
and Choice: A Decent Home for All: The Housing Green Paper; April
2000 
