§ Mr. John Evansasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals for differential treatment to allow or encourage locally based companies or individuals to purchase new town development corporation assets.
§ Sir George YoungNo. Towns are already aware of the need, subject to their getting the best consideration reasonably obtainable, to give existing tenants a fair opportunity to buy their freeholds.
§ Mr. John Evansasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of realised assets sold by Warrington new town development corporation has been sold to (a) locally based companies, (b) North-West based companies and (c) nationally based companies.
§ Sir George YoungWe do not collect the information needed to provide the breakdown sought by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. John Evansasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been realised by the sale of assets in Warrington by the Warrington new town development corporation up to the end of the last financial year; and what is the target for the current and next financial years, respectively.
§ Sir George YoungI refer the hon. Gentleman to the information set out in the corporation's annual reports for 1979–80 and 1980–81. These show that total asset sales, including housing, over those two years were £13.3 million. The annual report for 1981–82 will be published later this year.
As my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction explained in his reply to the hon. Member for Kilmarnock (Mr. McKelvey) on 9 June 1982—[Vol. 25, c. 144]—to publish information concerning the indications we have given towns of the sums they might be expected to raise through sales might prejudice their negotiating positions.