Minister apologises for failing to invite tenants

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 27th Aug 2008

Housing Minister Caroline Flint has been forced to apologise after failing to invite Sutton's tenants to contribute to a key housing review.

Sutton and Cheam MP Paul Burstow has been campaigning on behalf of the Sutton Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations (SFTRA) for fair representation of tenants on the review of the Housing Revenue Accounts subsidy system, which currently sees Sutton's residents swindled out of £10 million without seeing a penny benefit them.

The minister had promised Mr Burstow that local tenants would get their fair say, but months after making this promise, the invite had yet to arrive.

Mr Burstow said:

"I am disappointed that the minister had to be reminded by me to deliver on a promise. Tenants from the borough, and from across the country, deserve a real say in what happens to their money.

"The current system is a mess, it is unfair and unjust, and the way this review is being carried out does not give me much confidence that the situation will improve."

ENDS