§ Mr. PortilloTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he proposes to introduce legislation to enfranchise leaseholders. [110465]
§ Mr. RaynsfordLeaseholders of houses already enjoy rights to enfranchise their property under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967, and leaseholders of flats enjoy collective enfranchisement rights under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993. We intend to make these existing rights easier to exercise. The first stage in this will be the publication of a draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill for consultation during this session, as was announced in the Gracious Speech given on 17 November 1999,Official Report, columns 4–7. Following that consultation, we intend to bring forward legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.