HC Deb 31 October 2000 vol 355 cc387-8W
28. Mr. David Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many local authority houses there were(a) immediately prior to the coming into force of the right to buy legislation in 1981, (b) on 1 April 1987, (c) on 1 April 1992, (d) on 1 April 1997 and (e) on 1 April 2000. [133329]

Mr. Mullin

The right to buy came into effect on 3 October 1980. The number of properties reported by local authorities as in their ownership and available for rent on the dates specified is as follows.

Number of properties
1 April 1980 4,763,500
1 April 1987 4,412,600

Number of properties
1 April 1992 3,844,400
1 April 1997 3,400,600
1 April 2000 3,012,000

The change between 1 April 1980 and 1 April 2000 is not accounted for solely by the right to buy, but also by other changes such as voluntary sales and transfers to other social landlords.