§ Mr. Hawkinsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is now being made with the sale of council houses under the right-to-buy in Norwich following the recent decision by the Court of Appeal.
§ Mr. HeseltineWhilst maintaining my notice of intervention in force, I have consented to the continued processing of sales by the Norwich city council to a timetable and on conditions which I have laid down as follows
The council should issue all its outstanding section 10 notices by 31 March 1982, including so-called "difficult" cases, and should complete sales in all cases by such dates as I consider the earliest practicable in the circumstances, generally by 30 June 1982 where the right-to-buy has now been admitted.All questions involving the exercise of discretion, such as service charges, covenants in leases and so on, are to be referred to me.Weekly progress reports are to be submitted to me against a programme to be worked out after consultation between officials of the Department and the council.The Department is to be given access to case papers and processes as required by the Department to ensure that all matters are proceeding satisfactorily. Accommodation is to be provided in the city hall for one of my staff for this purpose.The city council will be responsible for the cost incurred by me under the intervention arrangements from 7 December 1981 until the notice of intervention is withdrawn.The city council has accepted these arrangements.