§ Sir Charles IrvingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to extend to other new towns his recent decision to allow the Commission for the New Towns to make land available at Telford at a price intended to facilitate the construction of low-cost housing.
§ Sir George YoungThe Commission for the New Towns is a disengagement authority, charged with maximising the receipts obtainable from the sale of its assets. Disposal of housing land at less than the best price reasonably obtainable can normally be justified only where this can be expected to lead to an overall enhancement in the value of its remaining assets.
§ Sir Charles IrvingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will extend to the Commission for the New Towns the power of local authorities to sell land for less than the market price.
§ Sir George YoungThe role of the Commission for the New Towns is disengagement and to maximise the receipts for the Exchequer obtained from the sale of its assets. It is the responsibility of the local housing authorities to co-ordinate arrangements to ensure that the social housing needs of their areas are met.