HC Deb 15 November 1972 vol 846 cc414-5
18. Mr. Gurden

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities now permit the sale to tenants of local authority council houses.

Mr. Channon

In the third quarter of 1972, 441 local authorities in England and Wales sold council houses.

Mr. Gurden

I thank my hon. Friend for that answer, but is he aware that, since the circular went out, some large local authorities have reversed the policy, preventing tenants from buying houses, and does he accept that this spiteful political move is bad for all council house tenants who wish to become home owners?

Mr. Channon

It is certainly in the interests of tenants who wish to do so to be able to buy their houses. There are growing demands from them to be allowed the right to do so, and I have every sympathy with that wish.

Mr. Leonard

One recognises the ideological differences between the two sides of the House on this issue, but will the Minister reconsider his ideological blanket advice to local authorities to make houses available for sale to tenants? Will he, for example, consider what was said in a recent letter to The Times from a correspondent who pointed to the problem in country areas where virtually all houses coming up for sale are snapped up by town dwellers and commuters at prices beyond the means of farm labourers, for example? As the only source of housing available at a low price is the rented council house, will the hon. Gentleman acknowledge that, if such houses are to be sold, there will be no prospect of housing the people in such areas in future?

Mr. Channon

I shall study the letter, which I have not yet seen, but the point we are making is that these are sales to sitting tenants. If sitting tenants wish to buy their houses, they ought to have the right to do so.

Mr. Freeson

Will the hon. Gentleman accept that there is at least as grave a shortage—if not a greater shortage—of reasonably rented accommodation in a market which is contracting as there is of properties for owner-occupation? If he accepts that, as most people informed in these matters do, why do the Government persist in pursuing an indiscriminate policy of trying to get council houses sold off in this way? Where local authorities wish to build for sale as distinct from selling rented properties, why does he not allow them to do so instead of stopping them?

Mr. Channon

There is a difference between the two sides of the House on this matter. I have always failed to understand why the Labour Opposition would forbid council tenants to purchase where they wish to do so. The Opposition would deny tenants that chance, and this is a fundamental difference between us. I shall do everything in my power to encourage local authorities to sell and to encourage local authority tenants to buy.