§ 104. Mr. BuckleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make provision for tenants of non-resident landlords to have the right to buy their house; and if he will make a statement.
§ 105. Mr. GowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses and flats have been sold to their tenants in England since May 1979; and what proposals he has to extend further to council tenants the opportunity to become owners.
§ Mr. ChopeOver 1.1 million local authority and new town tenants bought their houses in England between April 1979 and the end of December 1989, mainly under the right to buy.
The right to buy was extended from 1 March 1990 to new property which is particularly suitable for elderly persons and to existing property suitable for elderly persons let for occupation by younger disabled persons. Local authorities are also making increasing use of their power to pay cash incentives to help existing tenants buy homes of their own; in the current year, 81 schemes have been approved with the potential to release 2,572 vacancies.