§ 31. Mr. Hefferasked the Secretary of State for Environment what is his policy in respect of the Liverpool City Council's proposals for building houses for sale; if he will ensure that such projects do not stand in the way of building to let; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreesonIt is Government policy to encourage local authorities to provide a balance of tenures—municipal letting, co-operatives, housing associations, shared-equity schemes and down market owner-occupation. There is an active housing association movement in Liverpool together with a growing housing co-operative movement. The city council recently started to build 198 houses for sale and recent discussions have enabled the council to expand its programme for 1977 to 619 houses for rent. We have agreed this programme in full.