AQW 3180/16-21

Mr Andy Allen MBE
Ulster Unionist Party
East Belfast

Tabled Date: 15/09/2016
Answered On Date: 21/09/2016
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to outline (i) what discussion he has had with the Minister of Finance; and (ii) what contingencies plan he has in place should the Office of National Statistics reclassify housing associations.

Answer:

As you are aware, the ONS decision is due to issue shortly and is expected to have potentially significant impacts if housing associations are to be reclassified as public bodies. I can confirm I have met with the Minister of Finance and his officials and discussed the pending ONS decision. The most recent of these meetings was on Tuesday 13 September 2016.

In relation to the contingency plans, these can be finalised once the scope and impacts of the ONS decision is known. To ensure we are prepared, in advance of a decision, my officials have reviewed both the current legislative and regulatory framework to identify the most likely areas that ONS will focus on.

My Department have also been in regular contact with Departments in other jurisdictions to discuss various issues and identify comparisons.