§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his policy on the sale of council houses is intended to apply to former school houses in Scotland where these are not now being occupied by a member of the teaching profession.
§ Mr. RifkindThe forthcoming legislation giving certain public sector tenants the right to buy their houses will apply to houses owned by public housing authorities, including district and islands councils, but not to houses owned by public bodies other than housing authorities, such as regional councils. Consequently, where former school houses remain in the ownership of regional councils their tenants will not have the right to buy. However, I intend to encourage public bodies other than housing authorities who own housing to sell to sitting tenants any houses which they no longer require to meet their needs as employers.