HC Deb 11 July 1974 vol 876 cc568-9W
Mr. Barry Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will discuss with housing authorities and legal bodies whether changes in conditions of tenancy are desirable to enable a parent with custody of children to have tenancy rights in the event of marital dispute; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. William Ross

Local authorities already have discretion to transfer the tenancy of a council house to a parent who has custody of children in the event of marital dispute and, in a circular issued in January 1974, were asked to consider the possibility of transferring the tenancy to the mother where the father had left the matrimonial home. The position will be considered further in the light of the report of the Morris Committee on links between housing and social work, which is expected to be published early in 1975.