§ 32. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state, for the latest date for which figures are available, the number and proportion of local authorities which have adopted the policy of selling municipal houses; and how many, and what proportion of, council houses have so far been sold.
§ Mr. H. BrookeUp to 31st May, 454 local authorities, representing 31 per cent. of all housing authorities in England and Wales, had notified the sale of 10,408 houses, representing 0.3 per cent. of all council houses.
Many more local authorities have approved the policy of selling council houses, but there has been no demand for purchase.
§ Mr. SwinglerDoes not the fact that only a fractional percentage of council houses have actually been sold show that this policy is a total failure, and does not the Minister now realise that the best policy is to maintain as big a pool of municipal houses to rent as is possible, and to leave provision for owner-occupiers to the private builders?
§ Mr. BrookeNo, Sir. I think the local authorities should have greater discretion than the hon. Member would allow them.