§ Mr. Douglas-Mannasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what multiple of the tenants' income is contemplated in paragraph 20 of the consultation paper "Housing Bill—the Right to Buy" for the purpose of determining the maximum mortgage for which a tenant purchaser would be eligible; if the multiple has not been determined, what is the range of figures under consideration; and in what way age will be taken into account.
§ Mr. StanleyI shall bring forward detailed proposals in due course.
§ Mr. Douglas-Mannasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish figures showing the latest information available to his Department, on the best estimates available, of the numbers and percentages of local authority tenants who will be eligible, by reference to the length of tenancy for discounts on purchasing local authority dwellings, if the proposals in the consultation paper 369W "Housing Bill—the Right to Buy" are implemented; and if he will also publish numbers and percentages eligible for discounts, in three or more bands, between the proposed minimum of 33 per cent. and maximum of 50 per cent.
§ Mr. StanleyStatistics are not collected on the length of time tenants have been local authority tenants. The estimates below must therefore be regarded as subject to wide variation. The proportion who have been tenants for 20 years or more, and who would be eligible for discounts of 50 per cent. is estimated to be perhaps 30 per cent. The corresponding estimate for tenants of between three and 20 years standing who would be eligible for discounts of between 33 per cent. and 50 per cent. is perhaps 55 per cent. More detailed estimates within this latter category are not available.
§ Mr. Douglas-Mannasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish figures showing the estimated average market value of (a) houses and (b) flats owned by local housing authorities, region by region.
§ Mr. StanleyThe available information relates to the average market values of local authority dwellings actually sold
LOCAL AUTHORITY TENANTS IN ENGLAND AND WALES BY INCOME: 1978 Percentages Income (1) of head of household and wife Economically active head Economically inactive head All households £pa Under 1000 0.9 5.3 2.6 1000–1999 7.1 68.2 31.3 2000–2999 15.5 18.9 16.9 3000–3999 18.6 5.3 13.4 4000–4999 20.2 1.5 12.8 5000–5999 17.7 0.8 11.0 6000–6999 10.6 — 6.4 7000 and over 9.4 — 5.6 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 Sample base (number of households 1,152 755 1,907 Source: Family expenditure survey (1) Before deduction of income tax and national insurance contributions etc.