§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to consult on his proposals to exempt small rural settlements from the purchase grant scheme; and if he will make a statement. [19763]
§ Mr. CurryWe have today issued a consultation paper asking for comments from local authorities, housing associations, rural groups and other interested parties on how we propose to exempt small rural settlements in England from the new purchase grant scheme.
515WAs we announced in the rural White Paper, neither the voluntary purchase grant scheme for associations' existing properties, nor the planned statutory scheme for future publicly-funded developments will apply to rural villages with a population of 3,000 or fewer inhabitants. This is because we recognise the particular difficulty there can be in such areas in building or finding replacement properties for rent.
The Housing Bill currently before Parliament would give the Secretary of State the power to designate by order rural areas where the new right would not arise.
The consultation paper sets out the way we propose to implement this designation in England. It invites comments on our general approach, and on the rural detailed proposals for 15 broadly representative counties and areas. We will also consult on the remaining areas of England, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales will consult on proposals for Wales in due course.
Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Vote Office, and in the Libraries of both Houses. Copies of supplementary papers providing further details of proposed designations for each individual county or area, including copies of any maps needed, have also been placed in both Libraries.