HC Deb 19 December 1979 vol 976 cc613-4
9. Mr. Dewar

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from community groups, tenants' associations and other bodies supporting the sale of council houses.

Mr. Rifkind

We have received large numbers of letters from individuals who support sales and who wish to buy their own homes. Very few representations have been received from organisations expressing views, whether favourable or otherwise, on the sale of council houses.

Mr. Dewar

Will the Minister accept that very few of those letters will come from areas such as Glasgow, Garscadden, where there is widespread fear and dismay about the effects of the sale of council houses? Is the Minister aware that most of my constituents expect that any sales will be in the more popular areas of Glasgow, which will reduce social mobility by ensuring that those who do not already live in those areas will have no chance of moving there to a house of their choice? In view of that, will the Minister look again at the inflexible and dogmatic way in which he approaches this problem?

Mr. Rifkind

The letters that have been received from individuals have included approximately 200 in favour and 10 to 15 against the Government's policy. I would also say to the hon. Gentleman that all tenants in Scotland will have the right to buy their homes. I am convinced that tenants in the hon. Gentleman's constituency, when they realise the generous discounts available, will take the opportunity to buy their own homes, in the same way as tenants are doing throughout Scotland.

Mr. David Steel

Will the Minister confirm that he has had representations from the housing authorities in Tweed-dale, and Ettrick and Lauderdale district councils, and presumably elsewhere in Scotland, pointing out that his inflexible formula will be disastrous in the rural areas? Does he agree that these representations are more to the point than letters from individuals?

Mr. Rifkind

The Government do not accept that any of the proposals in the Tenant's Rights Etc. (Scotland) Bill will be disastrous in the rural areas. There is no reason why council tenants living in rural areas should not have the same rights as those in urban areas. We believe that we should ensure that this fundamental freedom is available to all Scottish tenants.

Mr. Peter Fraser

Can my hon. Friend indicate, from the sales of council houses that have already been achieved since his order went out to local authorities, what finance has been required by those tenants buying their houses from local authorities and what proportion has been self-financed?

Mr. Rifkind

It is already clear that this year more council houses will have been sold to tenants than in any other year in Scottish history. We are pleased to see that a substantial proportion of tenants have been able to finance the purchase of their own homes other than through local authority mortgages. My hon. Friend may be interested to know that the building societies have informed us that 25 per cent. of their depositors are council tenants. The building societies are therefore clearly able to help council tenants as well as other owner-occupiers.

Mr. George Robertson

On a previous occasion the Minister said that the purpose of the Government's legislation on the sale of council houses was to extend a new human right to council house tenants. What does he say to families living in high rise flats who will see their chances of ever getting out of those flats and moving into other areas compromised by the Government's proposals? What sorts of human rights will those people have in future?

Mr. Rifkind

The hon. Gentleman must accept that the very tenants to whom he refers have found that even without this right to buy they have been unable to move to an area of their choice for many years. What we are saying to these tenants is that they will now have the right to buy and at least have something to show for the many years during which they pay rent.