§ Mr. Simon CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to introduce a financial concession to assist local authorities to help council leaseholders who are finding it difficult to sell their flats.
§ Mr. Matthew BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to introduce the financial concession to assist local authorities to help council leaseholders who are finding it difficult to sell their flats.
§ Mr. CurryMy right hon. Friend had hoped to lay an order before the recess to implement a limited concession to help certain leaseholders. A draft order has been prepared but we have agreed to defer laying it in response to representations from the local authority associations that they and other interested parties should have an opportunity to consider the concession alongside other measures which we are proposing to assist leaseholders in difficulty with the resale of former council flats and with service charges. The draft order will therefore be included in a discussion paper to be issued to the associations, the National Federation of Council Leaseholders and others next week. Comments will be invited by mid-September and we hope to reach a conclusion shortly thereafter. A copy of the discussion paper will be placed in the Library.