HC Deb 27 November 2002 vol 395 cc364-5W
Mr. Pike

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to review right to buy; and if he will make a statement. [83417]

Mr. McNulty

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has indicated publicly that we are concerned about the impact of right to buy sales in areas of housing pressure, and that we will act to address this. We are also concerned about exploitation of the rules of the scheme, and announced earlier this year that researchers at Heriot-Watt university have been commissioned to investigate the scale, nature and impact of such exploitation. The results are expected by the end of this year and will be published thereafter.

Mr. Pickles

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish the sources of the anecdotal evidence he has evaluated that the right to buy rules were being exploited in some areas. [83509]

Mr. McNulty

No. The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The results of the research by Heriot-Watt University into the scale, nature and impact of such exploitation are expected by the end of this year, and will be published thereafter.

Mr. Pickles

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions Ministers and officials of his Department have held with the research team at Heriot-Watt University investigating the right to buy scheme; what was discussed at each meeting; who attended; and when each meeting took place. [83510]

Mr. McNulty

This research project is subject to normal project management procedures and disciplines operated by professional and policy officials. It is subject to review by a stakeholder group drawn from housing practitioners and representatives of lending institutions and local government.

The results are expected by the end of this year, and will be published thereafter.