HC Deb 17 December 1986 vol 107 c1200
13. Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses have been sold to sitting tenants in England in each of the last three years.

Mr. John Patten

In the financial years 1983-84 to 1985-86 respectively, 117,000, 89,000 and 80,000 tenants bought their council homes. Since this Government came to power in 1979, nearly 750,000 council tenants have bought their homes in England. The figure for the entire country has passed 1 million and, this year, right-to-buy applications are running at the highest rate since they reached their peak in 1982–83.

Mr. Knox

What percentage of the council house stock has been sold to sitting tenants? What is my hon. Friend's assessment of the potential for future sales?

Mr. Patten

I am not very good at percentages, but 4.5 million council tenants are still living in council flats and houses. Of those, we estimate that about 500,000—perhaps 600,000—still have the resources to buy. Those people being encouraged to exercise their right to buy will take home ownership in Britain to about 75 per cent. by the year 2000.

Mr. Ashton

Why will the Minister not allow local councils to use the cash from home sales, especially in coalmining areas? British Coal will be selling 16,000 houses by auction and by tender in the next few months, almost all of which are inhabited by elderly tenants and pensioners who are too old to get mortgages and who could not take one on at their time of life. Many councils wish to buy those houses, and they have cash in the bank from the sale of council houses. Will he allow them to use that cash to buy those British Coal properties?

Mr. Patten

I realise the strong feelings on this issue and the anxieties in the coalfield communities about the sale of some of those houses. I am engaged in discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy and his colleagues in that Department and, through them, with British Coal.