§ 25. Mr. Durantasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the total number of first-time buyers who are not council tenants who have been able to buy through the Government's low-cost home-ownership initiatives.
§ Sir George YoungWe estimate that between April 1979 and September 1982, 23,000 dwellings in Great 898 Britain were sold through low-cost home ownership initiatives involving local authorities, new town corporations and housing associations. In many cases, these will have been sales to first-time purchasers. Three-quarters of local authorities in England have indicated an intention to take up one or more of the low-cost home-ownership initiatives in 1982–83.
§ Mr. DurantDoes my hon. Friend agree that this is a most welcome development? Will he do all that he can to persuade other local authorities, which are not taking part in this initiative, to adopt it? Does he further agree that the schemes introduced by our hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction have made available a variety of opportunities for young people to become first-time house owners?
§ Sir George YoungMy colleagues and I will continue to do all that we can to persuade other local authorities to pursue this initiative, which can in many cases be geared to people on the waiting list and therefore prove of direct advantage to local authorities.
§ Mr. SpeakerStatement. Mr. Peter Walker.
§ Mr. Robert Hughes (Aberdeen, North)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I take points of order after statements.