| Chapter | Short title | Extent of repeal |
| 1980 c. 52. | Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980. | In section 1(12), in paragraph (iii) of the definition of "occupation", the words "in the discretion of the landlord,". Section 2(10) |
| 1981 c. 23. | Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1981. |
In Schedule 3, paragraph 40(c). |
| 1981 c. 59. | Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) (Scotland) Act 1981. |
Section 13(12)(b).' |
§ —[Mr. Ancram]
§ Brought up, read the First and Second time, and added to the Bill.
§ 10 pm
§ Mr. AncramI beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time.
Our election manifesto pledged us to extend the right to buy and also to strengthen the tenants' charter to give tenants a right to carry out repairs themselves and be reimbursed. The Bill fulfils those commitments.
May I say to those Opposition Members who are making such a noise that I have sat in this Chamber since 2.30, and until about half an hour ago I had not noticed that the requirement of haste had been met in any of the speeches that came from those Benches.
Under the Bill's provisions we have increased the maximum discount which long-term tenants may receive under the right to buy, from 50 per cent. to a new level of 60 per cent. after 30 years. We have acted to replace the landlord's discretion to count time spent as the child of a tenant—a discretion which a number of landlords had not operated fairly—with an obligation to count such time.
Throughout the Bill the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mr. Craigen) and his colleagues have made clear their opposition to these changes. I wanted to say a few words because, since Second Reading, I have been asking the official Opposition to tell us their position on the sale of council houses. I am now told by the hon. Gentleman who is the shadow Secretary of State for Scotland that I am not likely to get that information tonight. Having gone through a Bill of this nature, which is of such importance to council tenants, it is quite amazing that the official Opposition are not yet in a position to tell us their policy on the matter. This dithering and havering by them gives a greater justification to legislation of this kind than I should have thought possible. It is for that reason that I believe that the Bill is a major contribution to our objective of enlarging choice in home ownership and extending the rights of tenants. I commend the Bill to the House.
§ Mr. CraigenIf this little Bill is the fulfilment of the Tory manifesto, all I can say is that it is a hoodwinkers' charter. The majority of tenants that we represent are more concerned about higher rents and rent premiums than they are about the proposed increases in the discounts for sales.
The main concern during the course of the Bill was about section 17A and the enabling legislation. If the Government were as concerned about an alternative mechanism for the right to repair, I suggest that they ought to be introducing a scheme whereby those tenants who 408 want to carry out their own repairs are then enabled to send the bill straight to the Scottish Office for 100 per cent. reimbursement.
The consultation paper on which the enabling legislation is to be based is the big lie in Scottish housing. The scheme will continue the housing crisis and the lack of confidence in housing circles and will do very little for Scottish tenants.
§ Question put, That the Bill be now read the Third time:—
§ The House divided: Ayes 181, Noes 106.
410| [Division No. 129] | [10.04 pm |
| AYES | |
| Alexander, Richard | Dover, Denshore |
| Amess, David | Dunn, Robert |
| Ancram, Michael | Durant, Tony |
| Ashby, David | Dykes, Hugh |
| Aspinwall, Jack | Evennett, David |
| Atkins, Rt Hon Sir H. | Eyre, Reginald |
| Baker, Nicholas (N Dorset) | Fallon, Michael |
| Baldry, Anthony | Favell, Anthony |
| Batiste, Spencer | Fenner, Mrs Peggy |
| Bellingham, Henry | Finsberg, Sir Geoffrey |
| Benyon, William | Fookes, Miss Janet |
| Berry, Sir Anthony | Forsyth, Michael (Stirling) |
| Bevan, David Gilroy | Fraser, Peter (Angus East) |
| Biggs-Davison, Sir John | Freeman, Roger |
| Body, Richard | Gale, Roger |
| Bonsor, Sir Nicholas | Galley, Roy |
| Boscawen, Hon Robert | Garel-Jones, Tristan |
| Bottomley, Peter | Goodhart, Sir Philip |
| Braine, Sir Bernard | Goodlad, Alastair |
| Brandon-Bravo, Martin | Gow, Ian |
| Bright, Graham | Greenway, Harry |
| Brinton, Tim | Gregory, Conal |
| Brooke, Hon Peter | Griffiths, Peter (Portsm'th N) |
| Bruinvels, Peter | Grist, Ian |
| Buchanan-Smith, Rt Hon A. | Ground, Patrick |
| Bulmer, Esmond | Gummer, John Selwyn |
| Burt, Alistair | Hamilton, Hon A. (Epsom) |
| Carlisle, John (N Luton) | Hamilton, Neil (Tatton) |
| Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln) | Hanley, Jeremy |
| Carttiss, Michael | Hannam, John |
| Chapman, Sydney | Hargreaves, Kenneth |
| Churchill, W. S. | Harvey, Robert |
| Clark, Dr Michael (Rochford) | Hawkins, C. (High Peak) |
| Clarke Kenneth (Rushcliffe) | Hawkins, Sir Paul (SW N'folk) |
| Cockeram, Eric | Hawksley, Warren |
| Colvin, Michael | Hayes, J. |
| Conway, Derek | Hayward, Robert |
| Coombs, Simon | Henderson, Barry |
| Cope, John | Hickmet, Richard |
| Couchman, James | Hind, Kenneth |
| Cranborne, Viscount | Hirst, Michael |
| Crouch, David | Hogg, Hon Douglas (Gr'th'm) |
| Currie, Mrs Edwina | Holland, Sir Philip (Gedling) |
| Dicks, T. | Holt, Richard |
| Douglas-Hamilton, Lord J. | Hooson, Tom |
| Howarth, Gerald (Cannock) | Morrison, Hon C. (Devizes) |
| Howell, Ralph (N Norfolk) | Murphy, Christopher |
| Hubbard-Miles, Peter | Neale, Gerrard |
| Hunt, John (Ravensbourne) | Nelson, Anthony |
| Hunter, Andrew | Neubert, Michael |
| Jessel, Toby | Newton, Tony |
| Johnson-Smith, Sir Geoffrey | Nicholls, Patrick |
| Jones, Gwilym (Cardiff N) | Onslow, Cranley |
| Jones, Robert (W Herts) | Osborn, Sir John |
| Key, Robert | Ottaway, Richard |
| King, Roger (B'ham N'field) | Page, Richard (Herts SW) |
| Knowles, Michael | Percival, Rt Hon Sir Ian |
| Knox, David | Pollock, Alexander |
| Latham, Michael | Powell, William (Corby) |
| Lawler, Geoffrey | Powley, John |
| Lee, John (Pendle) | Prentice, Rt Hon Reg |
| Leigh, Edward (Gainsbor'gh) | Proctor, K. Harvey |
| Lewis, Sir Kenneth (Stamf'd) | Raffan, Keith |
| Lightbown, David | Rathbone, Tim |
| Lord, Michael | Rhodes James, Robert |
| Luce, Richard | Rifkind, Malcolm |
| Lyell, Nicholas | Roberts, Wyn (Conwy) |
| McCurley, Mrs Anna | Rost, Peter |
| Macfarlane, Neil | Sainsbury, Hon Timothy |
| MacGregor, John | Shaw, Giles (Pudsey) |
| MacKay, Andrew (Berkshire) | Sims, Roger |
| MacKay, John (Argyll & Bute) | Skeet, T. H. H. |
| Maclean, David John. | Spence, John |
| McQuarrie, Albert | Spicer, Michael (S Worcs) |
| Malins, Humfrey | Stevens, Lewis (Nuneaton) |
| Malone, Gerald | Stewart, Allan (Eastwood) |
| Marland, Paul | Temple-Morris, Peter |
| Marlow, Antony | Thompson, Donald (Calder V) |
| Mates, Michael | Thompson, Patrick (N'ich N) |
| Mather, Carol | Trippier, David |
| Maude, Francis | Walden, George |
| Mawhinney, Dr Brian | Walker, Bill (T'side N) |
| Maxwell-Hyslop, Robin | Warren, Kenneth |
| Mayhew, Sir Patrick | Watson, John |
| Mellor, David | Winterton, Mrs Ann |
| Merchant, Piers | Winterton, Nicholas |
| Meyer, Sir Anthony | Wood, Timothy |
| Miller, Hal (B'grove) | Younger, Rt Hon George |
| Mills, Iain (Meriden) | |
| Mills, Sir Peter (West Devon) | Tellers for the Ayes: |
| Moate, Roger | Mr. John Major and |
| Monro, Sir Hector | Mr. Ian Lang. |
| NOES | |
| Alton, David | Bennett, A. (Dent'n & Red'sh) |
| Ashton, Joe | Bermingham, Gerald |
| Barron, Kevin | Blair, Anthony |
| Beckett, Mrs Margaret | Brown, Gordon (D'f'mline E) |
| Beith, A. J. | Brown, Hugh D. (Provan) |
| Brown, Ron (E'burgh, Leith) | Lewis, Ron (Carlisle) |
| Bruce, Malcolm | Lewis, Terence (Worsley) |
| Buchan, Norman | Litherland, Robert |
| Callaghan, Jim (Heyw'd & M) | Loyden, Edward |
| Campbell-Savours, Dale | McCartney, Hugh |
| Carlile, Alexander (Montg'y) | McDonald, Dr Oonagh |
| Clark, Dr David (S Shields) | McGuire, Michael |
| Clay, Robert | McKay, Allen (Penistone) |
| Cocks, Rt Hon M. (Bristol S.) | McKelvey, William |
| Cohen, Harry | Mackenzie, Rt Hon Gregor |
| Cook, Robin F. (Livingston) | McTaggart, Robert |
| Corbett, Robin | McWilliam, John |
| Cowans, Harry | Madden, Max |
| Craigen, J. M. | Marek, Dr John |
| Cunliffe, Lawrence | Marshall, David (Shettleston) |
| Dalyell, Tam | Martin, Michael |
| Davis, Terry (B'ham, H'ge H'I) | Mason, Rt Hon Roy |
| Deakins, Eric | Maxton, John |
| Dewar, Donald | Meadowcroft, Michael |
| Dixon, Donald | Michie, William |
| Dormand, Jack | Mikardo, Ian |
| Douglas, Dick | Milian, Rt Hon Bruce |
| Eadie, Alex | Miller, Dr M. S. (E Kilbride) |
| Eastham, Ken | O'Brien, William |
| Ellis, Raymond | O'Neill, Martin |
| Evans, John (St. Helens N) | Parry, Robert |
| Ewing, Harry | Patchett, Terry |
| Fields, T. (L'pool Broad Gn) | Pavitt, Laurie |
| Fisher, Mark | Penhaligon, David |
| Flannery, Martin | Pike, Peter |
| Forrester, John | Powell, Raymond (Ogmore) |
| Foster, Derek | Prescott, John |
| Foulkes, George | Randall, Stuart |
| Freud, Clement | Richardson, Ms Jo |
| Gourlay, Harry | Ross, Ernest (Dundee W) |
| Hamilton, James (M'well N) | Sheerman, Barry |
| Hamilton, W. W. (Central Fife) | Sheldon, Rt Hon R. |
| Harman, Ms Harriet | Skinner, Dennis |
| Harrison, Rt Hon Walter | Smith, Rt Hon J. (M'kl'ds E) |
| Hogg, N. (C'nauld & Kilsyth) | Steel, Rt Hon David |
| Holland, Stuart (Vauxhall) | Strang, Gavin |
| Howells, Geraint | Tinn, James |
| Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen N) | Wareing, Robert |
| Hughes, Simon (Southwark) | White, James |
| Johnston, Russell | Wigley, Dafydd |
| Jones, Barry (Alyn & Deeside) | Wilson, Gordon |
| Kirkwood, Archibald | |
| Lambie, David | Tellers for the Noes: |
| Lamond, James | Mr. Frank Haynes and |
| Leighton, Ronald | Mr. John Home Robertson. |
§ Question accordingly agreed to.
§ Bill read the Third time and passed.