§ Mr. Gerald Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mrs. C. Ellis of her council home at 24 Crystal Palace road, East Dulwich SE22; and when he now expects Southwark council to complete the transaction.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI understand that Mrs. Ellis is one of many tenants of Southwark council whose right-to-buy application is delayed because the council is still considering how to comply with the new requirements, introduced by the Housing and Planning Act 1986, to notify applicants of known structural defects. My Department is pressing Southwark council to deal with the delays.