HC Deb 12 November 1980 vol 992 cc456-7
5. Mr. Best

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action has been taken by local authorities following the right to buy given to council tenants by the Housing Act.

The Minister for Housing and Construction (Mr. John Stanley)

Since 3 October 1980, virtually every local authority in England and Wales has been implementing the right to buy.

Mr. Best

What advice can my hon. Friend give to the tenants of Greenwich council, whose Labour councillors have indicated that they seek to frustrate the law by not processing the forms for the right to buy?

Mr. Stanley

I assure my hon. Friend that I deplore the action of any council that seeks to deny the rights of tenants given to them by this House. As the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Sparkbrook (Mr. Hattersley) said during the proceedings on the Housing Bill that he would deplore defiance of the law I look forward to his joining in the condemnation of any such action by Greenwich.

Mr. Heffer

Will not the Government's moratorum on building, combined with the sale of council houses, lead to longer lists of those waiting to rent council houses, more overcrowding and greater problems? Is the Minister aware that in Liverpool the situation is even worse, because the local authority, Liberal and Tory combined, is not building council houses for rent? Is it not clear that the Government's policy must change so that those on waiting lists will have an opportunity in the future to have a home to live in?

Mr. Stanley

As the hon. Gentleman will recall, the House, by a substantial majority, decided to give 6 million tenants the right to buy. The Government do not propose to change that policy.

Mr. Heffer

The Tories do not care about people without houses.

Mr. Lyell

Is my hon. Friend aware of the difficulties for my constituents that arise as they seek to buy their council houses from the fact that stamp duty on those purchases is being charged on the pre-discount value rather than the post-discount price? What steps is he taking to discuss the matter with his right hon. and hon. Friends in the Treasury?

Mr. Stanley

Following a number of representations on the matter, we are having discussions with our right hon. and hon. Friends in the Treasury.