HL Deb 14 November 1985 vol 468 cc383-4

3.13 p.m.

Lord Gainford

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 when, in view of the Havering experiment, the right for council tenants to repair their own houses, where local authorities are unable to do so, will be introduced.

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, the success of the Havering scheme was the starting point for the Secure Tenancies (Right to Repair Scheme) Regulations 1985, which will come into operation on 1st January next.

Lord Gainford

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer. Does my noble friend have any information as to how many councils are ready to comply with this new scheme? I understand that there are some which are viewing it with disfavour.

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, my right honourable friend does not maintain statistics of local authorities as regards right to repair. My right honourable friend's concern is that, whether or not they agree with the legislation, they should implement it. I hope that that is the view of the House.

Baroness David

My Lords, can the Minister say whether those tenants who are in receipt of supplementary benefit—I understand that that concerns about 67 per cent. of council house tenants—will be able to afford to benefit from the scheme, or whether it will be only better-off tenants who will benefit? By way of a second supplementary question may I ask: Will those local authorities which are already running very much simpler schemes than the one outlined by the Government, be free to carry on with their own schemes?

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, there is no reason why any tenant, however well off, should not take advantage of the right to repair scheme to which I referred in my original Answer. As regards the second question raised by the noble Baroness, I point out that this scheme runs parallel with any other scheme which local authorities may be running.