HC Deb 13 March 2000 vol 346 cc33-4W
Mr. Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many council house sales have been completed in each of the last 20 years. [114395]

Mr. Mullin

The available information is in the table.

Number of local authority and New Town dwellings sold: England1
Year Total sales
1979–80 55,400
1980–81 71,500
1981–82 132,100
1982–83 185,600
1983–84 126,000
1984–85 95,300
1985–86 89,500
1986–87 88,800
1987–88 116,200
1988–89 161,000
1989–90 168,500
1990–91 127,800
1991–92 70,900
1992–93 69,600
1993–94 84,200
1994–95 87,400
1995–96 79,100
1996–97 57,700
1997–98 77,800
1998–99 117,800
1 Includes all sales and transfers, but excludes those from local authorities to Housing Action Trusts and from New Towns to local authorities.

Source:

DETR Housing Activity P1 (B) (quarterly) and Housing Investment Programme (annual) returns.

Mr. Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many council houses he estimates will have been sold to tenants in the current financial year. [114396]

Mr. Mullin

Latest information on sales show that nearly 24,000 dwellings were sold into owner-occupation in England during the first six months of 1999–2000. It is not possible to predict accurately how many outstanding applications will be completed in the second half of the year.