HL Deb 09 November 1983 vol 444 cc796-7

2.45 p.m.

Baroness Elliot of Harwood

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many council houses and housing association dwellings have been sold in Scotland since May 1979.

Lord Lyell

My Lords, since May 1979, local housing authorities, new town development corporations and the Scottish Special Housing Association have sold a total of almost 45,000 houses. Of these sales, over 42,000 have been to sitting tenants. The number of housing association houses sold since that date is nearly 1,900.

Baroness Elliot of Harwood

My Lords, I thank my noble friend very much for that very satisfactory Answer. I am glad that the houses are being taken up. It means that, hopefully, more will be built as a result.

Lord Ross of Marnock

My Lords, can the noble Lord tell us just exactly how satisfied the Government are with this figure of 45,000, as compared with the fact that there are over 1 million houses open for this particular scheme? Can he tell us how many houses were built last year?—to see whether or not the point that the noble Baroness, Lady Elliot, has made about an increased number of houses being built arises. How many last year?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, I am not entirely aware of the figure the noble Lord is seeking, but I can tell him and your Lordships that our policy has been popular and, indeed, successful. Since the date that I gave in 1979, around 80,000 public sector tenants in Scotland have expressed interest in purchasing their own homes, over 42,000 sales have been completed and of course there are many more in the pipeline.

The Earl of Lauderdale

My Lords, can my noble friend tell the House whether there are any local authorities in Scotland which are not co-operating wholeheartedly in this scheme?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, my right honourable friend in another place has written letters to 15 district councils which in one way or another have had some difficulties in expediting the sale of publicly-owned houses. The length of time varies between 23½ months and just over 12 months between the first inquiry and completion.

Lord Ross of Marnock

My Lords, if the Minister claims that the Government's policy is so popular in Scotland, can he tell us why his party did so badly in the general election and why two Ministers lost their seats?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Ross, has been over this ground many times in the last four years, and indeed many times since the last election. He has only to look at who is answering the question today, and that will tell him his answer.

Lord Glenkinglas

My Lords, would my noble friend not perhaps agree with me that one of the reasons why there have not been so many sales in Scotland is because in some areas the houses are grossly subsidised from the rates, which makes it much more attractive to be a tenant that an owner?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend, as always. He has mentioned only one of many factors which affect the figures which I have given to your Lordships.