HC Deb 25 July 1979 vol 971 cc330-1W
41. Mr. Major

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have issued statements declining to sell their housing stock to sitting tenants; whether he will name these authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Stanley

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Anglesey (Mr. Best). The specific information requested by the hon. Member is not available.

59. Mr. Joseph Dean

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the mortgage repayments on the purchase of a council house at the dis counts of 50 per cent., 40 per cent., 30 per cent., and 20 per cent., based on a 15-year mortgage being obtained on cur rent valuations and at the mortgage interest rate to apply from 1 January.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 18 June.

The information provided then is still valid.

Mr. Hordern

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the conditions which apply to moneys received by local authorities from the sale of council houses; whether such funds may be restricted so that they may effectively be used only to reduce, or hold, the rents of other council tenants; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Stanley

Capital proceeds from council house sales may be applied either to repayment of housing debt or to financing of housing capital expenditure, or they may be invested and the revenue proceeds used to meet housing current expenditure. Where the sale is assisted by a mortgage given by the council, the interest repayments are similarly available to meet housing current expenditure. Capital proceeds may also be applied to non-housing purposes provided that appropriate adjustments are made to the housing revenue account. Their effect on the housing revenue account depends on the circumstances of each individual authority.