Healey Demands ONS Publish HAs Advice

Labour’s shadow housing minister has called for advice to ministers on the independence of housing associations to be made public. The Office of National Statistics is reviewing whether housing associations should be included in the national public accounts for borrowing and debt. John Healey has written directly to the Office of National Statistics calling for them to make public their assessment on the finances and the impact of the Housing and Planning Bill to end uncertainty for the sector. The NHF has raised concern that if its members’ accounts are included in national audit data, they would effectively cease to be charities and would be nationalised by the government. Read more on 24dash.