HC Deb 04 August 1976 vol 916 cc1699-701
7. Mr. Anthony Grant

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have decided to sell council houses to tenants wishing to purchase; and if he will set out the names of these authorities in theOfficial Report.

The Minister for Housing and Construction (Mr. Reginald Freeson)

Local authorities are not required to report to my Department decisions to sell council houses to tenants, but they are requested to notify actual sales. Table 13 of Local Housing Statistics No. 37, published in May 1976, of which a copy is in the Library, gives details of sales by local authorities during 1975.

Mr. Grant

In view of the great interest in council house building and the fact that enlightened boroughs, such as Harrow, are prepared to sell, will the Minister give a firm undertaking that he will not prevent councils from implementing the pledges on which they were elected, including those of giving a greater discount than 20 per cent?

Mr. Freeson

I do not think I need add anything to the statement I made on behalf of the Government in a recent Supply debate when I repeated the advice given on this question in April 1974. The approved practice on discounts of up to 20 per cent. remains, and we do not intend to allow or encourage discounts beyond that figure.

Mr. Alexander Wilson

If my hon. Friend publishes in theOfficial Report the names of local authorities which are prepared to sell council houses, will he also publish the names of the thousands of homeless people in those areas?

Mr. Freeson

I could certainly consider a breakdown of that kind of information, though I am not sure whether we could publish it in theOfficial Report. There are other Questions on the Order Paper about homelessness statistics which I shall deal with when we come to them.

Mr. Dykes

Will the Minister give a more positive response to Harrow Council's official suggestion to him to provide interest-free second mortgages for first-time home buyers, including people buying council houses, and allowing others to move out of the public sector into the private sector, thereby leaving more houses for genuine council tenants?

Mr. Freeson

We have just been through an agonising public expenditure exercise which has involved, among other things, a reduction in housing expenditure for 1977. This was one of the matters discussed with local authority associations in the last day or so. I hope to be making a statement, including reference to municipal home loans, within the next day or two, but I see no prospect of increased provision for this purpose. We must look to the building societies for that.

Mr. Loyden

Does not my hon. Friend agree that there ought to be positive discrimination in council house building, because resources are not going to the areas where they are needed and there is no common problem throughout the country? Would he agree that areas like Liverpool, with 16,500 people waiting for houses, are not the proper places in which to sell council houses?

Mr. Freeson

I have answered my hon. Friend's last point before. I am not in a position to take a detailed view of precise local circumstances and the disposition of different kinds of tenant. Public enterprise has a responsibility to provide for a wide range of tenure; it should not be left simply to private enterprise. I hope that I carry my hon. Friend with me on that. I agree with the main substance of his question, and when we have finalised the arrangements on the disposition of resources and the house-building programme in the light of the recently announced restraints we shall pay particular attention to protecting the stress areas, including Merseyside, as far as we are able.