Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of including housing support other than Housing Revenue Account as a service-specific formula when setting new funding baselines for councils as part of the Fair Funding Review.

Our fair funding review of local authorities’ relative needs and resources will deliver a thorough, evidence based review of funding allocations to English local authorities through close collaboration with the sector. In response to the views expressed by the sector, we are committed to implementing an approach with enhanced levels of simplicity and transparency, but recognise that this should not be at the expense of accuracy and fairness.

Our public consultation on the overall shape of the needs assessment recently closed, and sought views on service areas which may require a specific approach to allocations. We are currently considering the many representations made, including those who argued for a specific housing formula. Decisions on all this will form the basis for further consultation later this year.