HC Deb 18 June 1979 vol 968 cc890-2
9. Mr. Kinnock

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of houses owned by local councils in Wales.

The Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Wyn Roberts)

About 280,000.

Mr. Kinnock

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that there is still a severe housing shortage in Wales? Do Ministers therefore propose to go ahead with Conservative plans for selling off these houses? Does the hon. Gentleman realise that if that were to occur it would be a massive waste of public resources, that it would be socially destructive in local authority areas where there is heavy dependence on transfers of housing for social need, and that both the old and young couples who have special housing needs would be sadly let down if the housing stock were run down in that way? Will the hon. Gentleman reconsider these policies, if they are still policies, given the start on U-turns which we have already seen?

Mr. Wyn Roberts

The sale of council houses does not affect the total housing stock in any way. The same number of houses will be available as before, but we are giving tenants who wish to buy council houses the opportunity to do so. Furthermore, there will be a continuing role for local authority housing. We fully recognise that there will be tenants and others waiting for accommodation who will not wish to buy their own homes or are not in a position to do so. In our legislation we shall be introducing a tenants' charter to protect the rights of public sector tenants.

Mr. Best

I welcome my hon. Friend's statement that the sale of council houses does not reduce the housing stock by one unit. Is he aware that many people in council houses genuinely desire to own their houses and that they will be much better off doing so—and in many cases financially far better off as well?

Mr. Wyn Roberts

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Nearly 60 per cent. of houses in Wales are owner-occupied, 29 per cent. are occupied by tenants of local authorities, and 11 per cent. belong to the private rented sector. It is very much our wish to increase the first sector, to reduce the second and to revive the third.

Mr. Wigley

Is the Minister aware of the great concern felt at the prospect of the sale of council houses in areas of outstanding natural beauty, where there is an influx of people from outside and the possibility of council houses being bought which will eventually become second homes? Is he aware of the representations made from the Lake District area to his English colleagues, and will he bear in mind similar representations from Gwynedd in respect of Wales?

Mr. Wyn Roberts

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the responsibility for the sale of council houses is currently that of the local authorities, but we have a manifesto commitment to protect the situation in rural areas, and I assure him that that commitment will be honoured.

Sir Raymond Gower

Does my hon. Friend agree that the extension of home ownership to those who in the past have not been able to acquire ownership of the dwellings in which they reside can be looked upon as a great social reform, and is obviously seen in that light by the residents on many large council estates who voted heavily for the Conservative Party?

Mr. Wyn Roberts

I agree with my hon. Friend. Without doubt, there is a considerable demand in Wales for an increase in owner-occupation.