§ Mr. BettsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if a homeless family in a temporary tenancy and who are on the local authority housing list will have to accept any property of a suitable size for which they would be eligible under the proposals contained in the statement on access to local authority housing.
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesAny applicant for local authority or housing association housing could decline to take up a tenancy offered to him through the housing waiting list. As now, it would be for local authorities to decide whether refusal of such an offer would affect the applicant's eligibility for further offers.
§ Mr. BettsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to bring forward legislation based on the statement on access to local authority housing.
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-East (Mr. Timms) on 28 November,Official Report, column 479.
§ Mr. BettsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the position of a homeless family granted a temporary tenancy who became eligible for a permanent local authority tenancy while they were temporary tenants following implementation of the proposals contained in his statement on access to local authority housing.
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesAs the then Minister for Housing, Inner Cities and Construction, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, Action (Sir G. Young) said 875W in his statement to the House on 18 July, Official Report, columns 21–23, in most parts of the country a 12-month period on the housing waiting list will be long enough for someone with real housing needs to obtain a local authority or housing association tenancy.