§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further plans he has for greater private sector involvement in the management and ownership of council estates; and if he will make a statement. [28885]
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesWe wish more local authorities, especially in urban areas, to consider the benefits which they and their tenants can obtain from transferring the ownership of council housing to new landlords; and we wish a wider range of bodies to be involved in receiving such transfers. We hope to announce soon our proposals for bringing this about. We have put in place the legislative framework extending our compulsory competitive tendering to housing management. The first contracts are due to be in operation from April 1996. I am pleased to say that local authorities are making good progress with their preparations.