HL Deb 21 July 1987 vol 488 cc1373-4WA
Baroness Fisher of Rednal

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will consider making mandatory the sale of surplus police houses on terms, conditions and discounts equivalent to those applicable to council house sales.

The Minister of State, Home Office (The Earl of Caithness)

Police authorities have power under the general consents issued by the Secretary of State for the Environment in 1981 to sell surplus houses to police officers on the same terms and at the same rates of discount as those provided for council tenants under the Housing Act 1980. A Home Office circular sent to all police authorities in England and Wales in May 1987 reminded them that it was the Government's policy to encourage home ownership and asked them to make more use of their powers under the general consents to sell surplus police houses at a discount to police officers. HM Inspectors of Constabulary will be monitoring, during their annual visits of inspection, the steps which have been taken to comply with this request. Her Majesty's Government hope that the voluntary co-operation of police authorities over the discount sale of surplus police houses will avoid the need for the introduction of a mandatory requirement.