§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the total cost for(a) publicity and (b) administration of the rent-to-mortgage scheme since the date when this policy was first implemented; and how many tenants in each sector of public housing have (i) applied to take part in the scheme and (ii) signed an agreement.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 31 October 1994]: Advertising of the pilot rent-to-mortgage 1181W scheme in spring 1991 and spring 1992 cost £381,000 and some 21,000 responses requesting further information were received. The right to buy and the statutory rent-to-mortgage—introduced in September 1993—were promoted together in campaigns in autumn 1993 and spring 1994, at a cost of £512,000, and over 12,400 responses were received.
The administration of the rent-to-mortgage scheme is a matter for local authorities, Scottish Homes and the new town development corporations; information on administration costs is not held centrally.
The number of applications to purchase and complete sales under the rent-to-mortgage scheme up to July 1994 by each sector is shown in the table:
Rent-to-mortgage in Scotland Applications Sales Local authorities 1,467 457 Scottish Homes 1737 346 New towns 38 61 2,242 864 1 The Scottish Homes application total includes some in respect of New Town houses.