§ 23. Mr. Gordon Campbellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to encourage council tenants who can afford it to become owners of houses.
§ Dr. Dickson MabonI do not consider it necessary to take measures specifically directed towards council house tenants, but we introduced the option mortgage scheme and the associated mortgage guarantee scheme, which operate in conjunction with loans by local authorities as well as loans by building societies, [...] order to help those of moderate means to buy their own houses.
§ Mr. CampbellBut if the Government are encouraging home ownership, will not the Secretary of State change his attitude to authorising in appropriate circumstances the sale of council houses to sitting tenants where the full price is to be paid and it is already a family's home?
§ Dr. Dickson MabonWe have debated this subject many times. As long as there is a housing need in any area, the Secretary of State will decline to give his consent to the sale of council houses. However, he will encourage a family to move from a council house into an owner occupied house by various measures, some of which may be mentioned later this afternoon.