Local Authority Housing (Hansard, 19 January 2004)

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he intends to take to ensure that council tenants are given information on the case for and against the large scale voluntary transfer of council housing proposed by North East Lincolnshire council. [148067]

§ Yvette Cooper
Tenants should be involved from the outset in the consideration of stock options and have a central role in deciding which option is pursued. To assist tenants in this the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects them to have access to good independent advice from the start.
Where housing transfer is the chosen option, the local authority should ensure that the information provided to tenants during the consultation process gives a full, fair and balanced picture of the implications of the proposed transfer as compared with staying with the council, so they can demonstrate that tenants have been properly consulted and informed.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how he intends to ensure that his undertaking to London council tenants on 27 November 2003 regarding the information to be given to tenants about the implications of stock transfer or the creation of arm's length management organisations is implemented in the light of the decision by Mr. Justice Munby in case CO/6212/2003. [148068]
1091W

§ Yvette Cooper
The Communities Plan published in February 2003 made clear that council tenants must be fully informed and consulted at all stages in the process of appraising, choosing and implementing options for the future management and improvement of their homes. Tenants will have the support of Independent Tenant Advisers in this process. Effective tenant engagement is a key test for signing off the results of option appraisals and for giving approval for councils to implement these results. The information made available for tenants by their council and others at each stage should be sufficient to enable tenants to express an informed opinion.

§ Mr. Drew
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many council houses were sold in each year since 1980; and how many houses were left in local authority ownership each year. [148279]

§ Yvette Cooper
The figures available for England are tabled as follows:

Thousand

Council house sales

Right-to-Buy LSVT Other sales LA rented stock estimates¹

1979–80 n/a n/a 54 4,764

1980–81 2 n/a 66 4,798

1981–82 105 n/a 23 4,819

1982–83 167 n/a 14 4,660

1983–84 106 n/a 16 4,561

1984–85 78 n/a 13 4,511

1985–86 72 n/a 10 4,439

1986–87 77 n/a 9 4,366

1987–88 94 n/a 19 4,277

1988–89 136 11 9 4,134

1989–90 134 14 9 3,991

1990–91 76 45 6 3,899

1991–92 48 11 6 3,844

1992–93 38 26 5 3,760

1993–94 45 30 7 3,666

1994–95 43 40 4 3,565

1995–96 32 45 2 3,470

1996–97 33 21 4 3,401

1997–98 41 33 4 3,309

1998–99 40 74 4 3,178

1999–2000 54 95 3 3,012

2000–01 52 132 1 2,812

2001–02 52 35 1 2,708

2002–03 63 166 1 2,457

¹ Up to 1988–89 stock data at 31 December, thereafter at 31 March.

Thousand
	Council house sales
	Right-to-Buy	LSVT	Other sales	LA rented stock estimates¹
1979–80	n/a	n/a	54	4,764
1980–81	2	n/a	66	4,798
1981–82	105	n/a	23	4,819
1982–83	167	n/a	14	4,660
1983–84	106	n/a	16	4,561
1984–85	78	n/a	13	4,511
1985–86	72	n/a	10	4,439
1986–87	77	n/a	9	4,366
1987–88	94	n/a	19	4,277
1988–89	136	11	9	4,134
1989–90	134	14	9	3,991
1990–91	76	45	6	3,899
1991–92	48	11	6	3,844
1992–93	38	26	5	3,760
1993–94	45	30	7	3,666
1994–95	43	40	4	3,565
1995–96	32	45	2	3,470
1996–97	33	21	4	3,401
1997–98	41	33	4	3,309
1998–99	40	74	4	3,178
1999–2000	54	95	3	3,012
2000–01	52	132	1	2,812
2001–02	52	35	1	2,708
2002–03	63	166	1	2,457
¹ Up to 1988–89 stock data at 31 December, thereafter at 31 March.