§ 29. Mr. Flanneryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses were built in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983, respectively; and how many are planned to be built in 1984.
§ Sir George YoungThe English local authorities' figures for 1981 to 1983 are in table 1.3 of "Housing and Construction Statistics" No. 16 and for 1980 in issue No. 15: copies of both publications are available in the Library. My Department has made no estimate for 1984.
§ 37. Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to privatise up to one half of council houses in each local authority area.
§ Mr. GowWe have no plans for such legislation. The Housing and Building Control Bill will extend opportunities for council tenants to buy their homes; and we see scope for selling council estates to private sector trusts, as has been done at Stockbridge village on Merseyside, with the approval of the overwhelming majority of the tenants concerned.
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§ 52. Mr. Favellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what the Government are doing further to promote council house sales.
§ Sir George YoungThe Housing and Building Control Bill contains a number of provisions which will extend opportunities for council tenants to buy their homes. We shall give these provisions wide publicity when they come into force.
§ 58. Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department monitors standards of repair and maintenance of council houses.
§ Sir George YoungIt is for local authorities to take such steps as they consider necessary to monitor the standards of repair and maintenance of their housing.