HC Deb 28 July 1971 vol 822 cc547-8
4. Mr. Rost

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many contracts for the sale of council houses to sitting tenants were completed in 1970 and what is the estimated number of sales for 1971 and the target for 1972.

The Minister for Housing and Construction (Mr. Julian Amery)

Local authorities sold 6,231 council dwellings in 1970 and 2,729 in the first quarter of 1971. I have made no estimate of future sales, nor set any target.

Mr. Rost

I thank my right hon. Friend for his reply. Would he not agree that it will not be very encouraging to the many thousands of occupants of council houses who are hoping to buy their homes now that Labour-controlled councils are deliberately frustrating the efforts of those who wish to buy—particularly in those cases in which they have already started negotiating to purchase but the councils have defaulted on the contracts? Would he not consider a special study to see whether financial aid could not be given as an incentive to those councils prepared to proceed with sales and also to tenants prepared to proceed with purchase?

Mr. Amery

I would think it wholly wrong if any local authority were to interrupt a contract which was already in the pipeline. I would think it very regrettable if any local authority were to suspend the policy of selling council houses. For the time being, I would rather leave it to the judgment of the local authority. I find it very difficult to interfere in their local judgments—[HON. MEMBERS: "School milk?"] Local authorities must be careful about this. Public opinion is getting very worried about it.

Mr. Wellbeloved

What is the Minister's estimate of the number of tenants of the G.L.C. Thamesmead estate who are likely to want to buy their damp-ridden new houses? Does he not think it would be better for the Conservative G.L.C. to concentrate on making these new houses fit for decent families to live in, rather than wasting his energy selling council houses elsewhere?

Mr. Amery

I shall, of course, want notice of the particular estimate of the number of families who would be prepared to buy in Thamesmead, but I regret that the hon. Member should try to decry that estate, which will be a very fine housing estate.