§ Mr. Gordon BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has been notified of any approaches for buying estates owned by the Scottish Special Housing Association.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Sillars) on 10 January at columns 558–60.
§ Mr. Gordon BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is his instruction to Scottish Homes over the sale of housing estates, or their transfer outside the public sector;
(2) what is his policy towards permitting the sale of housing estates that are currently part of the Scottish Special Housing Association and consultation with tenants.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonScottish Homes will have a central role in implementing the Government's housing policy including arrangements to diversify tenure in public sector housing to give tenants a wider choice of housing. In certain circumstances, therefore, it will be appropriate for Scottish Homes to consider proposals by other landlords for the voluntary transfer of houses in its ownership. A number of such proposals have been submitted to the Scottish Special Housing Association and I have announced that it will be for Scottish Homes to respond formally to these proposals after 1 April 1989. The Government have said that Scottish Homes will apply to any such proposals the principles underlying the statutory safeguards for proposed sales by local authorities set out in the Housing Act 1988. Scottish Homes has been invited to draw up detailed procedures which follow closely relevant aspects of the guidelines, issued in September 1988, to local authorities on the voluntary transfer of housing to private bodies together with supplementary guidance which is relevant to disposals by Scottish Homes. A copy of the supplementary guidance will be placed in the House of Commons Library as soon as possible. The procedures to be adopted by
318WScottish Homes will be published when they have been agreed with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State.
My right hon. and learned Friend announced on 30 January 1989 that he has agreed a number of basic principles to be adopted by Scottish Homes in handling these matters after 1 April 1989. In particular proposals will in the first instance be assessed rapidly by Scottish Homes and those not rejected will be made public immediately. Scottish Homes will then consider the proposals in greater detail and, where these are judged to be practicable, tenants and other interested organisations such as local authorities will be consulted. My right hon. and learned Friend has agreed Scottish Homes' proposal that in all cases tenants' views will be ascertained by means of a postal ballot. Only where a majority of tenants replying are in favour of the proposals will Scottish Homes approve proposals and submit them for my right hon. and learned Friend's consent.
My right hon. and learned Friend will not consent to any proposals submitted by Scottish Homes unless he is satisfied that they are in the public interest and in particular that the tenants' interests are properly safeguarded, that the proposals constitute good value for money, and that the arrangements for consulting tenants were properly handled.