§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to enable council tenants to receive direct funding from local authorities to form co-operatives on estates where 51 per cent, of the tenants indicate by ballot their preference for local autonomy in terms of allocation, transfers and repairs; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungThe Housing and Planning Bill currently before Parliament already contains provisions enabling tenants' associations to require a local authority to consider and give a reasoned response to proposals for the delegation to them of housing management functions. The Bill also gives the Secretary of State power to pay grant to assist new and more responsive, more efficient ways of managing public sector housing.