HC Deb 21 January 1980 vol 977 cc78-9W
Mr. George Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many additional staff he has estimated it will be necessary for local authorities to employ to administer the proposed sale of council houses to sitting tenants.

Mr. Rifkind

The explanatory and financial memorandum to the Tenants' Rights Etc. (Scotland) Bill indicates that it is estimated that local authorities, the new town development corporations and the SSHA will, taken together, spend an additional annual sum of, approximately, £1 million on staff and administration as a consequence of all the provisions in the Bill dealing with tenants' rights, including the right to buy. No estimate of the number of additional staff who might be concerned exclusively with the right to buy has been made, but sales will lead to savings of administrative and maintenance staff.

Mr. George Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much he has budgeted for publicising the proposed rights to buy by a sitting tenant of a council house.

Mr. Rifkind

My right hon. Friend's publicity estimates for 1980–81 will take account of the needs arising from the Tenants' Rights Etc. (Scotland) Bill, but I cannot at present give a precise figure of the kind requested.