§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the current status of discussions relating to the housing owned by each of the development corporations, indicating the degree of tenant involvement in the discussions.
§ Mr. John PattenHousing is currently owned by development corporations in Milton Keynes, Peterborough, Runcorn, Telford and Warrington and by the Commission for the New Towns in Basildon. As my hon. Friend the Member for Surbiton (Mr. Tracey) said in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for The Wrekin (Mr. Hawksley) on 25 March, at column426, the Government are prepared to consider not only transfers to the relevant district councils but also other alternatives which corporations and the commission may wish to put forward. It is now for the these bodies to consider what proposals to submit, but my hon. Friend made clear that one important factor to which we would give weight in assessing these is the views of the tenants.