§ Mr. MadelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses have so far been purchased under the special package announced in the autumn statement; and from whom they have been brought.
§ Mr. HowardOf the £750 million announced in the autumn statement to boost the housing market in the United Kingdom, £577 million went to the Housing Corporation to enable housing associations to purchase new, empty and repossessed properties in England. The latest figures from the corporation show that by 22 January approvals had been granted for the purchase of 11,812 properties; 3,394 from private individuals; 425 from mortgage lenders in possession; 7,724 from builders or developers, and 269 from other sources.
Another £20 million was made available to the corporation to support the tenants' incentive scheme and £30 million to local authorities to support the cash incentive scheme, to encourage housing association and local authority tenants in England to move out and buy their own homes.