HC Deb 09 July 1979 vol 970 cc95-6W
Mr. Best

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the projected percentage increase in house prices in the current year which council house tenants will have to find before legislation enables them to buy council houses in areas where this is now denied them.

Mr. Stanley

No forecasts of future house price movements are made in my Department. However, council house tenants who are denied the right this year to purchase at the generous discounts made available in the general consent issued on 18 May will, in all probability, have to pay more next year than they would have done this year; and the responsibility will rest with the elected councillors of the authorities concerned.

Mr. Douglas-Mann

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what ratio of income to discounted capital value will be required of local authority tenants seeking to purchase their homes; and, if this will vary depending on the age of the proposed purchaser, whether he will publish a table showing the ratio at different ages.

Mr. Stanley

Details of the proposed legislation are still under consideration.

Mr. Shersby

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received and considered detailed proposals from the London borough of Hillingdon relating to the sale of council houses; and if he will now give ministerial approval for houses to be sold to intending purchasers at the increased discounts now available but on the basis of valuations made when offers were made to tenants between 13 July 1978 and the date when the increased discounts were announced.

Mr. Stanley

I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.