HC Deb 17 June 1981 vol 6 cc1012-3
11. Mr. Allan Stewart

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further representations he has received from local authority tenants experiencing difficulty in purchasing their homes under the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act.

Mr. Rifkind

My right hon. Friend has received a number of such representations from tenants of a small minority of the local authorities in Scotland. The evidence to date is that applications are being processed expeditiously by the vast majority of authorities, including many with a disproportionately high volume of applications.

Mr. Stewart

Does my hon. Friend agree that there is concern in certain areas that private valuers are valuing properties at substantially higher prices than are the district valuer? As there is no appeal against a valuation by a private valuer employed by a local authority, is it not important that tenants should be aware of their right to insist on the district valuer, if they so wish?

Mr. Rifkind

My hon. Friend is correct. It is for the tenant to say whether he wishes to use the local authority valuer or the district valuer. In areas where the number of applications is so high that the local authorities find it difficult to provide valuers quickly, that is an additional reason to use the district valuer, to provide valuations at no expense to themselves.

Mr. Home Robertson

Has the Minister seen the recent parliamentary reply from the Secretary of State for the Environment, which confirmed that less than 10 per cent. of the proceeds from the sale of council houses could be made available for new building and repair schemes by local authorities? Are the figures in Scotland similar? If so, is that not the biggest rip-off in the history of housing in Scotland?

Mr. Rifkind

The hon. Gentleman is not correct in his supposition. We are anxious to make available to local authorities the freedom to use the resources that they receive from the sale of houses. Up to now, they have not been enthusiastic about such a freedon, because they believe that it might affect their allocations. We are considering the proper approach for next year.

Mr. Bill Walker

Has my hon. Friend had any reports of Dundee constituents experiencing difficulties in taking up the opportunity to purchase their houses? If they are having difficulties because of the local authority's actions, what does he propose to do?

Mr. Rifkind

My understanding is that since the finding that Dundee was in default of the Tenants' Rights, Etc. Act 1980, the Dundee district council has accepted its statutory obligations and is now processing sales in a proper and acceptable way. If we receive any information that that is not so, we shall respond as a matter of urgency.