§ 49. Mr. Laneasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has now made of the response by housing authorities to the removal by the Government of the restriction on local authority mortgage lending and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChannonThe change has been generally welcomed, especially as a means of facilitating the purchase of older houses for improvement. I see no reason to alter the earlier forecast of a substantial increase in local authority mortgage lending this year.
§ Mr. LaneIs my hon. Friend aware that there has been a wide welcome for the further steps to encourage would-be home owners which were announced in the debate last week? Can he confirm that a continuing increase in home ownership generally remains one of the Government's top priorities, and that he will keep the Government's full weight behind the efforts of local authorities?
§ Mr. ChannonCertainly, and my right hon. Friend has made this clear a number of times. The point which my hon. Friend raises about local authority mortgage lending will, I believe, be an extremely important step towards this end.