§ 54. Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken in furtherance of his policy of encouraging local authorities to use unspent capital receipts on the purchase of ready-built homes from private builders.
§ Mr. StanleyMy right hon. Friend's statement to the House on 15 November—[Vol. 32, c. 19]—urged local authorities to consider buying completed or nearly completed low-cost homes direct from house builders for sale, under shared ownership arrangements, to first-time buyers and those on the waiting list. My Department's letter to all authorities of 25 November, giving details of HIP allocations for next year, again urged authorities to consider the possibility of promoting shared ownership, either by direct acquisation of low-cost homes from private house builders for immediate resale, or by inviting prospective purchasers to identify suitable properties themselves. A copy of that letter is in the Library.