§ 36. Mr. SillarsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss problems in Scottish housing.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonI expect to meet representatives of the Housing Committee of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on 24 September. My last meeting with them was on 25 January.
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§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the statutory rights available to tenants who are transferred out of the ownership of Scottish Homes by means of a ballot in terms of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 against their wishes.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 15 April 1991]: Tenants who are transferred to a private sector landlord from Scottish Homes as part of a large-scale voluntary disposal after a ballot, will hold assured tenancies and will have the statutory rights set out in part II of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 and the associated schedules.
Except for those tenants whose new landlord is a fully mutual co-operative housing association, tenants will have a contractual right to buy their home. This would become a statutory right to buy, after the coming into force of regulations, in terms of section 81A of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, which I expect soon to be laid before this House.
In addition, the terms of the new tenancy would be those agreed in advance of transfer and would have been made available to the tenants for their consultation process prior to the ballot taking place.