§ Mr. GrocottTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what are his proposals for dealing with the future of those houses which are empty during the planned ballot on the future of Telford development corporation houses;
(2) hat are his proposals for dealing with the future of those houses where there is a change of tenant after the planned ballot on the future of Telford development corporation houses but before ownership is changed;
(3) hen he now expects to ballot Telford development corporation tenants about the future ownership of their houses;
(4) hat are the financial terms for the transfer of Telford development corporation houses to (a) Wrekin district council, (b) housing associates and (c) tenants.
§ Mrs. RoeWe remain committed to consulting the tenants before any decisions are made about transferring the ownership of the new town housing in Telford, and it remains our policy to respect any individual preferences expressed through the consultation process. It is therefore essential that tenants be given all the information they need to make a considered choice.
In particular, it will be important that potential new landlords present tenants with realistically costed options, and in this connection I have had very much in mind the concern of Wrekin district council that the terms of transfer of the stock should be the same for local authority and other potential purchasers. This would require primary legislation, so transfer will not be possible for some time.
In the circumstances, tenant consultation now would be premature, and it would not be fair on the tenants to ask them to commit themselves now to a change which could not be implemented, perhaps for a couple of years. The best way to reduce the difficulties the hon. Member addresses in his other questions is to reduce as far as possible the interval between consultation and transfer. That is what we plan to do.