§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent representations he has received on the incidence of commercial property companies offering local authority tenants a cash incentive to exercise the right to buy their home; and if he will make a statement. [49915]
§ Ms KeebleWe are aware of concerns that the right to buy scheme is being exploited in various ways. We have commissioned research into what is happening, including the effect on the housing market. The results will be made publicly available when the work is completed.
1095W
§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many council properties were sold under the right to buy in each year since 1980. [49913]
§ Ms KeebleThe latest information on right to buy sales by local authorities and new towns in each year since the scheme's introduction in October 1980 is presented in the table:
Total sales completed under RTB 1980–81 2,300 1981–82 106,600 1982–83 168,700 1983–84 107,500 1984–85 78,500 1985–86 72,600 1986–87 77,400 1987–88 94,600 1988–89 137,000 1989–90 134,900 1990–91 76,600 1991–92 48,500 1992–93 37,900 1993–94 44,900 1994–95 43,300 1995–96 31,500 1996–97 33,200 1997–98 41,300 1998–99 40,300 1999–2000 54,300 2000–01 52,000 20011 23,800 Total 1,507,600 1April to September. Note:
Includes sales under shared ownership arrangements;
Excludes sales under rent to mortgage.
Source:
DTLR PI(B) quarterly housing activity returns, and new town returns.
Tables showing reported information on right to buy and other sales and stock transfers by each local authority in England, along with national and regional summaries, for each year since 1979–80, are available in the Libraries of the House.