§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on behalf of Scottish Homes tenants who want to choose their local district or islands councils as alternative landlords; and if he will introduce an amendment to the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 to include that option in the choices available to tenants.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonMy right hon. Friend has received about 20 individual representations on this matter. He has no plans to make any changes to the present arrangements regarding sales of Scottish Homes' stock to alternative landlords under large scale voluntary transfer procedures or individual tenants' choice provisions. It has been made clear in guidance to Scottish homes that large scale sales of Scottish Homes' stock to a local authority should be considered only where there are special circumstances which do not compromise She Government's and Scottish Homes' policy objective of tenure diversification. It is expected that such circumstances will rarely arise.