HC Deb 27 October 1976 vol 918 cc236-7W
Mr. George

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will detail the number of claimants in 1975 entitled to, but not drawing: (a) rent or rate rebate, b) rent allowance for unfurnished accommodation and (c) rent allowance for furnished accommodation, and the average rebate of each of these three classes of beneficiary in 1975.

Mr. Armstrong

The information is as follows:

(2) if he will list in the Official Report those county and district councils which have not agreed to the sale of council houses to sitting tenants;

(3) if he will list in the Official Report those county and district councils which actively encourage and support the sale of council houses to sitting tenants.

Mr. Freeson

The latest available figures are for 1975 when 114 authorities in England and Wales sold 2,089 dwellings. Table 13 of "Local Housing Statistics" No. 37 shows which authorities sold in that year. A copy of this document is available in the Library. The returns received from local authorities show only the number of houses sold.

Mr. John H. Osborn

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, bearing in mind the policy of some nationalised industries to sell tied houses to sitting tenants and the Rent (Agriculture) Bill, if he will now introduce legislation to seek to make the sale of council houses, to sitting tenants who wish to purchase, obligatory.

Mr. Freeson

I have no plans to introduce such legislation.