§ Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has made any estimate of the likely rate of increase in shared purchase housing schemes.
§ Mr. StanleyNo precise estimate can be made, but I expect a substantial increase in shared ownership sales in 1982–83. Some 41 local authorities are currently understood to have schemes in various stages of preparation, as against 27 a year ago. All the English new towns have now launched shared ownership schemes. In 1981–82 the Housing Corporation approved housing association schemes for almost 2,000 shared ownership units, most of which will be ready for sale this year, and its approved development programme for 1982–83 includes £28 million for shared ownership and leasehold for the elderly projects.
In addition, the Housing Corporation will be giving priority to those new fair rent projects by non-charitable housing associations—other than fully mutual cooperatives—which offer the incoming tenant the option of shared ownership purchase either immediately or later.