Tories would force HCA to prove its worth

The Tories have made it clear they would abolish a number of non-departmental public bodies – or quangos – within weeks of getting into power.

At the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Harrogate conference today the chief executive of the HCA, Sir Bob Kerslake, was asked whether he was concerned his agency would face the axe.

He replied: ‘What they’ve said to us is it is early days, let’s wait and see, do you justify your existence?

‘And I’m quite happy with that as a position, to be judged on performance, whether we are delivering value. No agency has a divine right to exist.’

A Conservative victory at the next general election, which has to be held within the next 12 months, could present the HCA with a range of challenges.

Party leaders have expressed a wish to reduce regional government bureaucracy, whilst the HCA has placed a strong emphasis on the regions.

Speaking at the conference, Sir Bob said the HCA has put a lot of effort into its regional work: ‘Previous agencies didn’t, we’ve gone for strong, powerful regional directors.’

He added that he hoped the nine regional HCA directors would be the main contacts for delegates, and that he would be ‘disappointed’ if they had not had some contact with their local representative.

A show of hands later revealed nearly all of the people attending the discussion session knew who their regional director was, although only around half had met them.

Asked to rate the Tory housing team, Sir Bob responded: ‘I do think they recognise the challenge of more housing and the need for more affordable housing. They understand its importance.

‘There is a debate about the how. But I do think they understand the importance of the housing agenda.’

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