§ 17. Mr. Hamlingasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he will take, by legislation or otherwise, to prevent local authorities from selling public land and property.
§ Mr. GreenwoodI am considering whether the conditions of the general consent, which permits local authorities to sell council houses, need any modification. I have no proposals for preventing local authorities from selling other land and property.
§ Mr. HamlingIs my right hon. Friend aware that some Tory councils, with a rather shortsighted attitude, are selling property which belongs to the community as a whole and from which the community as a whole would benefit over generations?
§ Mr. GreenwoodThere are two parts to this problem. First, as regards council houses, the decision must depend upon local circumstances. There may be no objection to councils selling council houses to tenants or to people on their waiting lists, but it must not be done at the expense of people on the waiting list. As regards other assets, I very much hope that local authorities will consider very carefully before deciding to dispose of assets which have been created through the foresight of their predecessors.
§ Mr. LubbockWe very much welcome what the Minister has just said, but will he make a distinction between the selling of existing council houses and the building of houses by local authorities for sale to persons on the waiting lists?
§ Mr. GreenwoodI appreciate that.