§ Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement of Government policy on encouraging cheaper and easier home ownership.
§ Sir George YoungIn the last four years, nearly 1 million more people became home owners, including over ½ million former public sector tenants. The proposals in58W the Housing and Building Control Bill are aimed at widening home ownership still further by extending the right to buy to secure tenants of leasehold properties; and increasing the maximum discount available from 50 to 60 per cent., while providing tenants with a right to buy on shared ownership terms. In addition, other initiatives under the Government's low-cost home ownership programme have generated just under 32,000 sales since 1979–80. Further progress will result from the introduction in January this year of the do-it-yourself-shared-ownership scheme under which over 400 sales have already been approved by the Housing Corporation.