The Earl of HARROWBYasked Her Majesty's Government:
When the technical guidance notes, envisaged in paragraph 1.30 of Annex 1 of the Department of the Environment Circular 76/77 on Better Use of Vacant and Under-Occupied Housing, will be made available to local authorities, and whether they are aware that the delay in publication is causing houses to remain unoccupied, which might otherwise be leased to local authorities, particularly in rural areas.
§ Baroness BIRKMy right honourable friend hopes to issue these notes shortly. They have been ready for some time, but were held back pending the outcome of consultations, now in train, on the proposals for security of tenure for local authority tenants. The proposals include a special provision to permit recovery of possession by local authorities who have leased privately owned houses.