§
Amendments made: No. 15, in page 21, line 38, after 'charity', insert '—(i)'. No. 16, in page 21, line 41, leave out '." and (g)' and insert'; or
(ii) which but for section 4(4) of, and paragraph (g) of the Second Schedule to, that Act (exempt charities) would require to be so entered; or
(f) where by virtue of section 49(2) of the said Act of 1960 (extent) a landlord so mentioned is not one to which Part II of that Act (registration of charities etc.) applies, but—
- (i) the landlord has, in respect of all periods from 3 October 1980, claimed and been granted (whether or not retrospectively), under section 360(1) of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970 (special exemptions for charities), exemption from tax; and
- (ii) the rules of the landlord, registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 and in force at the date of the landlord's first being registered by the Housing Corporation, were such as would have admitted of such exemption had it been claimed as at the said date of registration; or
(g) where, within a neighbourhood, the dwelling-house is one of a number (not exceeding 14) of dwelling-houses with a common landlord, being a landlord so mentioned, and it is the practice of that landlord to let at least one half of those dwelling houses for occupation by any or all of the following—
- (i) persons who have suffered from or are suffering from mental disorder (as defined in the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984), physical handicap or addiction to alcohol or other drugs;
- (ii) persons who have been released from prison or other institutions;
- (iii) young persons who have left the care of a local authority, and a social service is, or special facilities are, provided wholly or partly for the purpose of assisting those persons.";
§
(g) after subsection (11) there shall be inserted the following subsections—
()1A) The Secretary of State may by order amend, or add to, the list of classes set out in sub-paragraphs (i) to (ii) of paragraph (g) of subsection (11) above.
(11B) The Commissioners of Inland Revenue shall, as regards any registered housing association, at the request of the Secretary of State, provide him and the Housing Corporation with such information as will enable them to determine whether that association is a landlord in respect of which this section will not, by virtue of subsection (11)(f) above, apply; and where a registered housing association is refused exemption on a claim under section 360(1) of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970 the Commissioners shall forthwith inform the Secretary of State and the Housing Corporation of that fact.
(11C) Where information has been received by the Housing Corporation under subsection (11B) above and having regard to that information the Corporation is satisfied that the housing association to which it relates is not a landlord in respect of which this section applies, they shall make an entry to that effect in the register of housing associations maintained by them under section 3(1) of the Housing Association Act 1985, and they shall cancel that entry where subsequent information so received in relation to that housing association is inconsistent with their being so satisfied."; and
225
(h)'.
§ No. 19, in page 25, line 39, leave out '18' and insert '16'.
§
No. 20, in line 40, at end insert—
'(bb) whether, or to what value, the applicant or any of his family owns or has owned (or any of them own or have owned) heritable or moveable property; or'.
§
No. 21, in line 44, at end insert; or
(d) whether the applicant is living with, or in the same dwelling-house as—
- (i) his spouse; or
- (ii) a person with whom he has been living as husband and wife.'.
§
No. 22, in page 26, line 28, leave out from 'area' to; and' in line 33 and insert
'; or
(ii) any of the matters mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) of section 26(1) of this Act'.
§ No. 23, in line 34, after 'requirement', insert`—(i)'.
§ No. 24, in line 37, after 'period', insert; or
- (ii) that a divorce or judicial separation be obtained; or
- (iii) that the applicant no longer be living with, or in the same dwelling-house as, some other person,'.—[Mr.Ancram.]
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, That the Bill be now read the Third time.—[Mr. Ancram]
8.36 pm§ Mr. MaxtonI shall be brief, but I wish to make it clear that, while the Government have made some concessions for charities and special need housing, the basic objection to extending to tenants of housing associations the right to buy, especially to community housing associations, still remains.
We object strongly to the changes that the Government are making to discount arrangements both in raising the percentages for flats and in reducing the repayment period for that discount from five years to three. We do not believe that those changes are necessary. They are part of a sell-off. They demonstrate the Government's great ideological desire to get rid of every council house that they possibly can. This is the only part of their housing policy that is not directed to the cutting of housing expenditure. Against this background, I shall be asking my right hon. and hon. Friends to vote against the Bill's Third Reading.
§ Sir Russell JohnstonI shall ask my right hon. and hon. Friends to vote against the Bill's Third Reading. We are not opposed to the right to buy. We shall oppose Third Reading because it is our view that this measure could blight the remarkable progress of the housing associations, which have done so much to provide houses for those who would otherwise not have them, and to make improvements where improvements would not have been made, as well as filling a continuing gap between the private and public sectors in housing provision. We accept the right to buy, but we believe that there is a right to rent.
§ Mr. Alexander Eadie (Midlothian)We have been asked to give a Third Reading to a Bill which only tinkers with the problems of housing in Scotland. It refers to the sale of houses and the role of housing associations but it hides what is happening—for example, how vast sums are being extracted from the public purse for private gain. I am thinking of Newton Grange in my constituency, where many think that what is happening borders on a 226 public scandal. I refer to the former 550 National Coal Board houses at Newton Grange, which were on land leased from the Lothian estates by the board. When, in 1983, the lease expired, the land and properties reverted to Lothian estates. It is not disputed that many of the houses needed substantial improvement. Despite repeated questions to the Government and the NCB, I have never been able to discover whether Lothian estates acquired all of that property without payment. The secrecy of the matter brings me to the reasonable conclusion that there is something to hide.
Mr. Deputy SpeakerOrder. I must remind the hon. Gentleman that on Third Reading we must confine ourselves to what is in the Bill. The hon. Gentleman is going well outside the Bill.
§ Mr. EadieI intend to speak for only a few minutes and I believe that the House will realise that what I am saying is in order.
The case that I am outlining illustrates that the arguments used in support of the Bill are defective. In March 1984, the Housing Corporation approved funds for rehabilitation by Castle Rock housing association of 119 houses in the Newton Grange No. 1 housing action area. It is public knowledge that Lothian estates acquired a small fortune as a result of the Castle Rock housing association's decision. I do not criticise that, but Lothian estates paid little or nothing for the properties and demanded more than £300,000 for the properties which the Castle Rock housimg association proposed to rehabilitate. Housing associations are mentioned in the Bill. The Castle Rock housing association eventually paid £209,750 for the properties in the housing action area.
Mr. Deputy SpeakerOrder. I find it extremely difficult to relate what the hon. Gentleman is telling the House to what is in the Bill.
§ Mr. EadieThe Bill affects the funding of housing associations and how public money will be disbursed. I am therefore entitled to speak on behalf of my constituents and to say that the Bill should not receive a Third Reading.
Lothian estates acquired a small fortune of public money perfectly legally, but the circumstances surrounding the sale are of dubious propriety, to put it mildly. It is not that Lothian estates is a good landlord. When pressed about the dubious propriety of its actions, it oozes a spirit of benevolence. I have had many letters from constituents. I draw the Minister's attention to Mrs. Young of 47, The Square, Newton Grange because the House is entitled to know that the public purse has been robbed. The Minister happens to be the son and heir of Lothian estates, and therefore of the public money to which I have referred. We are entitled to know why he is piloting the Bill through and why he has the right to pilot it through, as he will get some of the money I have mentioned.
This is a disgraceful Bill in many respects. It will riot solve Scotland's housing problems and it will merely transfer housing from public to private hands. It is more concerned with profit than housing and I hope that the House will not give it a Third Reading. I also hope that the Minister will have the decency to say what is his vested interest and why he is taking the Bill through the House as a landlord who stands to gain substantial sums of money.
§ Mr. AncramWhen the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) considers that speech in the cold light of day, he may feel that his remarks were unworthy. Listening to the political prejudice enunciated by the spokesmen for the Liberal party and for the Labour party strengthens my view that the Bill is good for tenants and good for housing in Scotland, and I ask my right hon. and hon. Friends to support it.
§ Question put, That the Bill be now read the Third time:—
§ The House divided: Ayes 196, Noes 138.
229| Division No. 91] | [8.45 pm |
| AYES | |
| Alison, Rt Hon Michael | Hayes, J. |
| Ancram, Michael | Heathcoat-Amory, David |
| Bevan, David Gilroy | Hickmet, Richard |
| Biggs-Davison, Sir John | Hicks, Robert |
| Blackburn, John | Hirst, Michael |
| Boscawen, Hon Robert | Holt, Richard |
| Braine, Rt Hon Sir Bernard | Howarth, Alan (Stratf'd-on-A) |
| Brooke, Hon Peter | Howarth, Gerald (Cannock) |
| Brown, M. (Brigg & Cl'thpes) | Howell, Ralph (Norfolk, N) |
| Buchanan-Smith, Rt Hon A. | Hubbard-Miles, Peter |
| Butcher, John | Hunt, David (Wirral W) |
| Carlisle, John (Luton N) | Hunt, John (Ravensbourne) |
| Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln) | Jenkin, Rt Hon Patrick |
| Carttiss, Michael | Johnson Smith, Sir Geoffrey |
| Cash, William | Jones, Robert (Herts W) |
| Clark, Dr Michael (Rochford) | Kellett-Bowman, Mrs Elaine |
| Colvin, Michael | King, Roger (B'ham N'field) |
| Cope, John | Knight, Greg (Derby N) |
| Cormack, Patrick | Knowles, Michael |
| Corrie, John | Knox, David |
| Couchman, James | Lamont, Norman |
| Currie, Mrs Edwina | Lang, Ian |
| Dicks, Terry | Latham, Michael |
| Dorrell, Stephen | Lawler, Geoffrey |
| Douglas-Hamilton, Lord J. | Lawrence, Ivan |
| Dunn, Robert | Lennox-Boyd, Hon Mark |
| Durant, Tony | Lester, Jim |
| Dykes, Hugh | Lightbown, David |
| Eggar, Tim | Lilley, Peter |
| Fallon, Michael | Lloyd, Peter (Fareham) |
| Farr, Sir John | Lord, Michael |
| Favell, Anthony | Lyell, Nicholas |
| Finsberg, Sir Geoffrey | McCrindle, Robert |
| Forman, Nigel | McCurley, Mrs Anna |
| Forsyth, Michael (Stirling) | Macfarlane, Neil |
| Forth, Eric | MacGregor, Rt Hon John |
| Fowler, Rt Hon Norman | MacKay, Andrew (Berkshire) |
| Fox, Marcus | MacKay, John (Argyll & Bute) |
| Franks, Cecil | Maclean, David John |
| Fraser, Peter (Angus East) | McNair-Wilson, M. (N'bury) |
| Gale, Roger | Madel, David |
| Galley, Roy | Major, John |
| Gardiner, George (Reigate) | Malins, Humfrey |
| Garel-Jones, Tristan | Marland, Paul |
| Gilmour, Rt Hon Sir Ian | Marlow, Antony |
| Glyn, Dr Alan | Mather, Carol |
| Goodhart, Sir Philip | Maxwell-Hyslop, Robin |
| Gower, Sir Raymond | Mellor, David |
| Gregory, Conal | Merchant, Piers |
| Griffiths, Sir Eldon | Miller, Hal (B'grove) |
| Griffiths, Peter (Portsm'th N) | Mills, Iain (Meriden) |
| Grist, Ian | Moate, Roger |
| Grylls, Michael | Monro, Sir Hector |
| Gummer, Rt Hon John S | Montgomery, Sir Fergus |
| Hamilton, Hon A. (Epsom) | Moore, Rt Hon John |
| Hamilton, Neil (Tatton) | Morrison, Hon C. (Devizes) |
| Hampson, Dr Keith | Mudd, David |
| Hanley, Jeremy | Neale, Gerrard |
| Hargreaves, Kenneth | Needham, Richard |
| Harris, David | Nelson, Anthony |
| Haselhurst, Alan | Neubert, Michael |
| Hawkins, C. (High Peak) | Newton, Tony |
| Normanton, Tom | Spicer, Michael (S Worcs) |
| Onslow, Cranley | Stanbrook, Ivor |
| Oppenheim, Phillip | Stern, Michael |
| Ottaway, Richard | Stevens, Lewis (Nuneaton) |
| Page, Richard (Herts SW) | Stewart, Allan (Eastwood) |
| Parkinson, Rt Hon Cecil | Stewart, Andrew (Sherwood) |
| Patten, Christopher (Bath) | Stradling Thomas, Sir John |
| Pawsey, James | Sumberg, David |
| Peacock, Mrs Elizabeth | Taylor, John (Solihull) |
| Porter, Barry | Terlezki, Stefan |
| Portillo, Michael | Thomas, Rt Hon Peter |
| Powley, John | Thompson, Donald (Calder V) |
| Prentice, Rt Hon Reg | Thompson, Patrick (N'ich N) |
| Proctor, K. Harvey | Thornton, Malcolm |
| Raffan, Keith | Thurnham, Peter |
| Rhys Williams, Sir Brandon | Trotter, Neville |
| Ridsdale, Sir Julian | Twinn, Dr Ian |
| Rifkind, Rt Hon Malcolm | Waddington, David |
| Rippon, Rt Hon Geoffrey | Walker, Bill (T'side N) |
| Roberts, Wyn (Conwy) | Wall, Sir Patrick |
| Robinson, Mark (N'port W) | Waller, Gary |
| Rost, Peter | Wardle, C. (Bexhill) |
| Rowe, Andrew | Watts, John |
| Ryder, Richard | Wells, Bowen (Hertford) |
| Sainsbury, Hon Timothy | Wells, Sir John (Maidstone) |
| Sayeed, Jonathan | Wheeler, John |
| Shaw, Giles (Pudsey) | Whitfield, John |
| Shaw, Sir Michael (Scarb') | Winterton, Mrs Ann |
| Shelton, William (Streatham) | Wolfson, Mark |
| Shepherd, Colin (Hereford) | Wood, Timothy |
| Shepherd, Richard (Aldridge) | Woodcock, Michael |
| Shersby, Michael | Yeo, Tim |
| Sims, Roger | Young, Sir George (Acton) |
| Skeet, Sir Trevor | Younger, Rt Hon George |
| Smith, Tim (Beaconsfield) | |
| Soames, Hon Nicholas | Tellers for the Ayes: |
| Speed, Keith | Mr. Francis Maude and |
| Spencer, Derek | Mr. Gerald Malone. |
| NOES | |
| Adams, Allen (Paisley N) | Duffy, A. E. P. |
| Alton, David | Dunwoody, Hon Mrs G. |
| Anderson, Donald | Eadie, Alex |
| Archer, Rt Hon Peter | Eastham, Ken |
| Atkinson, N. (Tottenham) | Edwards, Bob (W'h'mpt'n SE) |
| Barron, Kevin | Evans, John (St. Helens N) |
| Beckett, Mrs Margaret | Fatchett, Derek |
| Beith, A. J. | Faulds, Andrew |
| Bidwell, Sydney | Field, Frank (Birkenhead) |
| Boyes, Roland | Fields, T. (L'pool Broad Gn) |
| Bray, Dr Jeremy | Fisher, Mark |
| Brown, Gordon (D'f'mline E) | Flannery, Martin |
| Brown, Hugh D. (Provan) | Foot, Rt Hon Michael |
| Brown, N. (N'c'tle-u-Tyne E) | Foster, Derek |
| Brown, Ron (E'burgh, Leith) | Foulkes, George |
| Bruce, Malcolm | Freeson, Rt Hon Reginald |
| Buchan, Norman | George, Bruce |
| Callaghan, Jim (Heyw'd & M) | Godman, Dr Norman |
| Campbell-Savours, Dale | Golding, John |
| Canavan, Dennis | Gourlay, Harry |
| Carlile, Alexander (Montg'y) | Hamilton, W. W. (Fife Central) |
| Carter-Jones, Lewis | Hardy, Peter |
| Clark, Dr David (S Shields) | Harrison, Rt Hon Walter |
| Clarke, Thomas | Hart, Rt Hon Dame Judith |
| Clay, Robert | Haynes, Frank |
| Clelland, David Gordon | Hogg, N. (C'nauld & Kilsyth) |
| Clwyd, Mrs Ann | Home Robertson, John |
| Cocks, Rt Hon M. (Bristol S) | Howells, Geraint |
| Cook, Frank (Stockton North) | Hoyle, Douglas |
| Cook, Robin F. (Livingston) | Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen N) |
| Corbett, Robin | Hughes, Sean (Knowsley S) |
| Craigen, J. M. | Hughes, Simon (Southwark) |
| Cunliffe, Lawrence | Janner, Hon Greville |
| Dalyell, Tam | John, Brynmor |
| Davies, Ronald (Caerphilly) | Johnston, Sir Russell |
| Dewar, Donald | Jones, Barry (Alyn & Deeside) |
| Dixon, Donald | Kennedy, Charles |
| Dormand, Jack | Kirkwood, Archy |
| Douglas, Dick | Lambie, David |
| Dubs, Alfred | Lamond, James |
| Leadbitter, Ted | Redmond, Martin |
| Lewis, Terence (Worsley) | Rees, Rt Hon M. (Leeds S) |
| Livsey, Richard | Richardson, Ms Jo |
| Lloyd, Tony (Stretford) | Roberts, Allan (Bootle) |
| Lofthouse, Geoffrey | Robinson, G. (Coventry NW) |
| Loyden, Edward | Rogers, Allan |
| McDonald, Dr Oonagh | Ross, Ernest (Dundee W) |
| McKelvey, William | Rowlands, Ted |
| MacKenzie, Rt Hon Gregor | Short, Ms Clare (Ladywood) |
| McTaggart, Robert | Silkin, Rt Hon J. |
| Madden, Max | Skinner, Dennis |
| Marshall, David (Shettleston) | Snape, Peter |
| Martin, Michael | Soley, Clive |
| Mason, Rt Hon Roy | Spearing, Nigel |
| Maxton, John | Stewart, Rt Hon D. (W Isles) |
| Maynard, Miss Joan | Stott, Roger |
| Meacher, Michael | Strang, Gavin |
| Meadowcroft, Michael | Thomas, Dafydd (Merioneth) |
| Michie, William | Thompson, J. (Wansbeck) |
| Mikardo, Ian | Thorne, Stan (Preston) |
| Millan, Rt Hon Bruce | Tinn, James |
| Morris, Rt Hon J. (Aberavon) | Wainwright, R. |
| Nellist, David | Welsh, Michael |
| O'Brien, William | White, James |
| O'Neill, Martin | Wigley, Dafydd |
| Orme, Rt Hon Stanley | Wilson, Gordon |
| Park, George | Winnick, David |
| Patchett, Terry | |
| Pavitt, Laurie | Tellers for the Noes: |
| Pike, Peter | Mr. James Hamilton and |
| Powell, Raymond (Ogmore) | Mr. Allen McKay. |
§ Question accordingly agreed to.
§ Bill accordingly read the Third time and passed.