§ Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what encouragement his Department is giving to the concept of shared ownership; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StanleyWe have given wide publicity to the availability of shared ownership. The Department has given authorities guidance on the legal aspects and has produced a model shared ownership scheme, model clauses for inclusion in leases, and a free booklet in question and answer form entitled "Shared ownership—How to become a homeowner in stages". A full model shared ownership lease is currently in preparation.
The Housing and Building Control Bill, now before Parliament, will give secure tenants the right to buy on shared ownership terms where they cannot afford to buy outright. In addition, I launched on Monday 24 January a new shared ownership scheme, called the do-it-yourself shared ownership scheme as set out in the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Lichfield and Tamworth (Mr. Heddle)—[Official Report, 24 January; Vol. 35, c. 350–51.]