The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has confirmed it
will examine whether to reclassify housing associations as public bodies once
the government has released details of its Right to Buy extension. If the ONS
decides on reclassification, housing association debt would be counted as
public borrowing, pushing £60bn on to the government’s balance sheet. Jonathan Athow, deputy national statistician
for economic statistics at the ONS, said the ONS would ‘certainly’ consider
implications for the ownership of associations’ assets and liabilities. In a
letter to Labour MP Clive Betts, Mr Athow said the government can submit
fully-formed policy proposals to ask the ONS how they would affect the
recording of official statistics. Read the letter sent by ONS.
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