§ Mr. SoleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any proposals to give guidance to local authorities on the organisations which are permitted to arrange ballots for local authority tenants being transferred to other organisations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RidleyNo. My hon. Friend the then Minister for Housing and Planning made it clear that he expected authorities who are seeking to dispose of their tenanted housing to follow the procedures set out in section 6 and schedule I of the Housing and Planning Act 1986. Authorities themselves have the primary responsibility for ensuring that any ballot which is held is conducted, and is seen to be conducted, without any suggestion of impropriety.
Under our proposals for tenants' choice, it would be the applicant rather than the local authority who would have responsibility for arranging the ballot.