§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to introduce to England elements of the Scottish system of house sales and purchases. [7284]
§ Ms KeebleIt is already open to sellers and buyers of homes in England to follow the Scottish arrangements if they wish. This does not require a change in the law. It is also worth noting that these arrangements are not mandatory in Scotland, but have become established by custom and practice.
Our consultation paper 'the key to easier home buying and selling', published in December 1998, discussed the Scottish arrangements. Most people responding on this issue agreed with the analysis that these arrangements have potential drawbacks and would not work well in more active housing markets in England and Wales.