HC Deb 21 April 1980 vol 983 cc9-11
7. Sir Raymond Gower

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many council-owned dwellings in Wales have been purchased by their tenants during the past 12 months; and whether this constitutes an upturn in the numbers of such sales.

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

In 1979 1,187 council-owned dwellings were sold, an increase of 156 compared with the 1978 figure.

Sir R. Gower

Has my hon. Friend any evidence that some of the authorities which are now selling houses are a little inexperienced in this sort of work? Will his Department give all possible advice and help in appropriate circumstances?

Mr. Roberts

Some 17 authorities in Wales are selling council houses. They are accumulating experience. Obviously, we expect a considerable increase in sales when the Housing Bill is enacted.

Mr. Rowlands

Is not one of the reasons why the hon. Gentleman expects an increase in the sales of council houses that the Government are forcing up rents to incredible levels? He has already imposed a £2 a week average increase by withdrawing subsidies, and in the next year or two we shall see in the valley communities the £20-a-week council house rent. That might well force people to buy their properties, but it does nothing for the homeless of Wales. Will the hon. Gentleman reconsider the whole of his housing investment programme for the next year?

Mr. Roberts

No, we shall certainly not do that. But the reason why we expect an increase in sales is that under the Housing Bill we are for the first time giving to council tenants a right to buy. From our experience in our constituencies, we know that there are many people who wish to buy their own homes and who have hitherto been denied that opportunity by their councils and local authorities.

Mr. Hooson

Will my hon. Friend make arrangements in areas in which local authorities have opposed this policy to ensure that tenants will have the right to buy their council houses and flats?

Mr. Roberts

There will be no question but that council tenants will have the right to buy once the Housing Bill becomes law.

Mr. Anderson

Has the Under-Secretary seen the warnings from the respected chairman of the Council for the Principality that if the proposed cuts by the Welsh Office of the housing investment programme continue, this will mean a complete halt to council house building in Wales next year? Even if this is only partially true and if council house sales continue, do not the Administration have some concern for those who are at the receiving end—young couples and those on the waiting lists—who will find it increasingly impossible to have a decent roof over their heads?

Mr. Roberts

It is not true that the Government's housing allocations for this year will mean the end of council house building. It is entirely up to the local authorities concerned to decide what they do with the money that has been allocated to them. Hon. Members will know that every authority in Wales has this year been allocated 80 per cent., at least, of its previous year's allocation, as promised by the previous Government in November 1978——

Mr. Rowlands

Making 37 per cent. less.

Mr. Roberts

I hear the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil (Mr. Rowlands) objecting from a sedentary position. I assure him that his authority has had 92 per cent. of its allocation for last year.

Mr. Rowlands

In real terms?

Mr. Roberts

Every authority can increase the money allocated to it, by selling council houses.