§ Mr. Leighasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects residents of local authority flats will be able to exercise the right to buy with the new discounts included in the Housing and Planning Bill.
§ Mr. John PattenThe Bill provides for the new discount scale for flats purchased under the right to buy to come into operation two months after Royal Assent. If the Bill becomes law in October the change will therefore take effect by the end of the year.
The general consents have been amended to allow local authorities to sell by agreement to sitting tenants at the new discounts now.