§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what his housing policy is in respect of the new towns; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Allan StewartThe Government's policy statement of September 1981 expressed the Government's intention that housebuilding needs in the new towns should increasingly be met by the private sector. In furtherance of that general policy, the Government have indicated to the development corporations that their own housing role should be to manage, maintain and rehabilitate their existing housing stock, build houses for rent to meet special needs, facilitate the sale of corporation houses to their tenants, and encourage the extension of home ownership in a variety of other ways including the promotion of joint ventures with private builders.