§ Mr. Dykesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to extend the scope of mortgage assistance granted to home buyers by local authorities.
§ Mr. Armstrong:Yes. As foreshadowed in the Gracious Speech, my right hon. Friend hopes to include in the forthcoming Housing Bill measures to enable local authorities to keep their own mortgage interest rates in line with those charged by building societies. He also intends to introduce provisions to clarify and strengthen local authority powers to guarantee mortgages.