HC Deb 06 May 1981 vol 4 cc96-7W
24. Mr. Douglas-Mann

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish a table showing, for each of the years 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82, the actual or estimated total cost of Exchequer and rate fund subsidy to local authority tenants and the combined cost in lost revenue of mortgage interest tax relief and option mortgages.

Mr. Stanley

The information about housing subsidies is contained in the following table. On matters of tax relief I refer the hon. Gentleman to my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

29. Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has now received from those local authorities which had previously not made progress with their council homes sales schedules following his recent exhortations to them to complete their programme without further delay.

Mr. Stanley

As I told the House on 15 April, seven authorities have now been asked to provide by Wednesday 13 May further information on their current and estimated future progress.—[Vol. 3, c. 335–43.] If it then appears to my right hon. Friend that tenants of any of these authorities have or may have difficulty in exercising the right to buy effectively and expeditiously, notice of intervention will be served under section 23 of the Act. We continue to watch closely progress in a number of other authorities, particularly those referred to in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Mellor) on 1 May—[Vol. 3, c.474–75.]

32. Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that local authorities are not attempting to circumvent the right-to-buy provisions of the Housing Act by gaining exemptions without regard to the individual circumstances of either the property, or the tenant, or both; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Stanley

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to applications made to my right hon. Friend under Schedule 1 paragraph 5 of the Housing Act 1980. These provisions do not provide a means of circumventing the right to buy because they provide only for determinations to be made where my right hon. Friend is satisfied that the dwelling-house in question is designed or specially adapted for occupation by persons of pensionable age and that it is the practice of the landlord to let it only for occupation by such persons.