§ 28. Mr. SillarsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his policy on the sale of council houses and its effect on the housing problem in Scotland.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Government's policy on council house sales is to extend freedom of choice to many who otherwise would have no option but to continue renting. Of the 210,000 public sector houses which have been sold, over 203,000 have been bought by the sitting tenants.
Since April 1979 public sector sales have released some£1.4 billion in extra resources for local authorities through capital receipts, which can be used for new public sector provision, for modernising or improving existing stock, or for reducing outstanding capital debt. This benefits remaining council tenants, either through increased capital investment on council housing or through loan charges and rent rises being less than they would otherwise have been.