§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what negotiations are being conducted between his Department and the local authority associations about the service charges to be made to council tenants purchasing flats under the right-to-buy legislation; and when he expects a decision to be reached.
§ Mr. StanleyNo such negotiations are in progress. The assessment of service charges is a matter for individual authorities to determine under the provisions of the Housing Act 1980.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of council tenants whose purchases of their flats under the right-tobuy legislation are being delayed as a result of uncertainty over the fixing of service charges.
§ Mr. StanleyNo such estimate is available, but I do not accept that 18 months after chapter 1 of part I of the Housing Act 1980 came into force the assessment of service charges constitutes a valid reason for delay, particularly as a number of authorities have now reported completions of sales of flats under the right to buy.