HC Deb 02 December 1970 vol 807 c1259
5. Mr. John Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will refuse permission to sell council houses in Scotland to local authorities with non-existent or inadequate council house building programmes.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

Each application for permission to sell will be considered on its merits.

Mr. Smith

As the Secretary of State's reply evades the point of the Question, are we to understand that permission may be given to local authorities with poor housing programmes, with the result that people in need of houses will be replaced by people who can pay for them?

Mr. Campbell

I have explained that each case will be considered on its merits, and there will, no doubt, be many different circumstances. If the hon. Gentleman is in doubt and needs more enlightenment, he should consult his own Chief Whip who, during a curtailed term of office as Minister of Housing, was advocating last June a policy of selling council houses and proclaiming its benefits to the electorate.