§ Mr. Powleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many council tenants in England and Wales have signed away their "right-to-buy" when seeking a transfer of local authority accommodation in England and Wales since May 1979; and if he is taking any action to restore those rights;
(2) how many local authorities in England and Wales since May 1979 require tenants seeking a transfer of accommodation to sign away their "right-to-buy" before consenting to the transfer; and if he will list the authorities concerned.
§ Sir George YoungAs far as I am aware, only tenants of Norwich city council have been required to make exchanges of their secure tenancies by assignment, thus denying them the right to buy. My Department does not have precise information about the number of tenants affected, but has received at least 15 queries from tenants whose right to buy has been denied in these circumstances. As my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction told my hon. Friend on 22 August, the Government are proposing to deal with this anomaly in the Housing and Building Control Bill, which is at present before Parliament. Clause 22 of the Bill, as drafted, is designed to restore security of tenure which ceased on the assignment of secure tenancies at any time after the commencement of the Housing Act 1980, and this will enable those tenants affected to buy their homes if they desire to do so and if they otherwise qualify.