§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what are the most up-to-date figures for all sales of housing association houses in (a) Scotland and (b) the Lothian region to sitting tenants; what percentage this represents of housing association stock in Scotland; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many housing association houses of general needs housing have been sold with a discount in (a) Scotland and (b) the Lothian region; what percentage this represents of housing association stock in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AncramThe total numbers of housing association houses sold to sitting tenants in Scotland and in Lothian region up to 30 June 1985 were, respectively, 76 and 21; all sales were of general needs houses. Fifty-three of the Scottish sales and 16 of those in Lothian region were made at a discount. Each of these totals represents less than 1 per cent. of the housing association stock in Scotland.
I have been concerned for some time that the voluntary code governing sales to housing association tenants in Scotland has not been operating with sufficient effect. At my request the Housing Corporation wrote some months ago to all associations which had not already instituted a sales scheme with discounts, requesting them to reconsider their policies. Its letter was accompanied by an open letter from me in which I restated the Government's position on voluntary sales and stressed the importance of discounts to the success of any sales policy. I subsequently received a report from the Housing Corporation on the outcome of the exercise. I had hoped for a substantial movement in associations' policies but this has proved not to be the case. Although there has been some movement, a considerable number of associations have reaffirmed their opposition to sales and others who permit sales will not provide discounts.
In view of this response, and the need to ensure that housing association tenants do not remain at a significant disadvantage in comparison with other public sector 388W tenants, we propose to introduce legislation at the earliest opportunity to give housing association tenants the right to buy their homes.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many housing association houses of (a) general needs housing, (b) special needs housing and (c) co-ownership housing there are in Scotland and Lothian region today: giving separate figures for each category.
§ Mr. AncramEstimated figures provided by the Housing Corporation are given in the following table for 31 March 1984, the latest date for which estimates can be made.
Number of houses Area General needs Special needs Co-ownership Scotland 25,000 6,800 900 Lothian 4,100 2,400 100