§ 2.49 p.m.
§ Baroness Elliot of HarwoodMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many local authorities in the United Kingdom operate or have plans to establish "homesteading" schemes in the current year to meet the needs of young married couples and first-time buyers.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Bellwin)My Lords, I understand that so far some 85 authorities in England have sold, or intend to sell, unimproved houses for improvement by the purchaser in the current financial year. I do not have any information on the rest of the United Kingdom.
§ Baroness Elliot of HarwoodMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that Answer, which is encouraging, but I hope that the Government will encourage more people to do this, since obviously it is one way to get new houses at very low cost. I understand that in the Budget it was proposed that the grants of up to 90 percent. are to continue, and therefore this will be one 520 way to deal with the housing situation in certain areas. Can the Government encourage this still further?
§ Lord BellwinMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for raising this matter. I think there is no difference on any side as to the desirability of helping with this type of provision—for new starters, low-cost home ownership—and, yes, we will indeed continue to encourage it in every way possible.