§ Mr. Dunnettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the housing need in Nottingham, he will refrain from giving Nottingham City Council permission to sell council
400Wsale of empty town development houses in expanding towns where the local authority is satisfied that local housing needs are broadly met.
§ Mr. John SilkinWhen there is no substantial unmet demand for rented accommodation in an expanding town, either existing or foreseen at a later stage of the expansion, it may well be appropriate for the local authority to sell houses into owner occupation, especially if this helps to improve the balance of tenures in their district. But it would depend on the authority's overall assessment of local housing conditions and needs in its district as a whole.