§ 1. Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to investigate the effect of the cash incentive schemes available to enable tenants to move from public sector to private sector housing on local house prices and house availability for local people in Wales.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Gwilym Jones)I shall certainly watch these schemes with great interest, and I expect the results to be beneficial.
§ Mr. WigleyDoes the Minister accept that there is something offensive and unfair about the fact that Welsh taxpayers' money might go by way of grants to people from cities such as London to buy houses in Wales that local people cannot afford? Thousands of local people are trying to find rented accommodation or, if they can, to buy. Does not that need an initiative by the Welsh Office to ensure that equivalent funds are available for people in Wales to get a home, which so many of them are unable to do at present?
§ Mr. JonesNo, I think that the transferable discount scheme represents good value for money. It is certainly 2 good value compared with new build, for instance. It facilitates two important objectives: allowing families to own a home of their own, while freeing other accommodation for housing need. I can reassure the hon. Gentleman that we are already making great efforts, through Housing for Wales and housing associations as well as local authorities, to create further housing throughout Wales, particularly in rural areas.