§ 26. Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has refused the proposed exemption from sale to tenants of any homes presently owned by the New Forest district council on the grounds for exemption claimed by that local authority; and if his commitment remains that tenants have a right to buy except in circumstances individually specified by his Department.
§ Mr. StanleyThe New Forest district council has to date submitted requests that 15 dwellings, where tenants have claimed the right to buy, should be excluded from the right to buy on the grounds set out in paragraph 5 of schedule 1 to the Housing Act 1980. One case was submitted outside the time limit laid down in the Act and the dwelling concerned is therefore not excluded from the right to buy. The other 14 cases are still being considered in the light of the provisions of paragraph 5.
§ 34. Mr.Heddleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent local councils are deliberately hindering the sale of council houses; and what steps he is taking to assist applicants to buy in such circumstances.
§ Mr. StanleyI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friends the Members for Reading, North (Mr. Durant); Burton (Mr. Lawrence); and Newark (Mr. Hogg).