HC Deb 30 January 2003 vol 398 cc1017-8W
Mr. Chope

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what consultations have been carried out in determining the objective data from which the Government has derived the high demand indicator for the purposes of reducing maximum right to buy discounts. [93993]

Mr. McNulty

None. Two measures were used: homelessness and house prices. The sources of the homelessness data were statistical surveys of local authority housing departments, routinely conducted by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister2001–02 Housing Investment Programme Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix Quarterly Housing Activity Return (PIE). House prices were obtained from the Land Registry and can reasonably be assumed to reflect market prices since sales below market value were excluded.

Mr. Chope

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library the evidence he has collated that the Right to Buy has been abused in the borough of Christchurch. [93994]

Mr. McNulty

The report of the research by Heriot-Watt University into the scale, nature and impact of exploitation of the Right to Buy policy will be published shortly. It did not find any exploitation in the borough of Christchurch, but the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is minded to reduce the maximum Right to Buy discount in this area because it is under great housing pressure as evidenced by a high local incidence of homelessness and high local house prices.

Mr. Chope

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will extend beyond 5 February the deadline for responses from Christchurch Borough Council to his letter about right to buy discounts. [94441]

Mr. McNulty

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister wrote on 22 January 2003 to all the local authorities affected by our announcement that day on Right to Buy discounts, giving them the opportunity to present a case for their areas to be excluded. All views and comments on the announcement received on or before 5 February 2003 will be given careful consideration.

Mr. Chope

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the letters about reduction of right to buy discounts were despatched to(a) Christchurch Borough Council and (b) Twynham Housing Association. [94442]

Mr. McNulty

Letters informing Christchurch Borough Council and Twynham Housing Association of my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's announcement about reducing right to buy discounts, and seeking their views, were despatched during the afternoon of Wednesday 22 January 2003.