Rents-to-Mortgages Scheme

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Environment – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 12 June 1991.

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Photo of Mrs Maureen Hicks Mrs Maureen Hicks , Wolverhampton North East 12:00, 12 June 1991

Does my hon. Friend agree that allowing council tenants to buy their homes under the right-to-buy scheme was a very popular piece of legislation? We have given tenants what they want, but some tenants need further assistance. I welcome the experiment to date, and I hope that as soon as possible we shall extend the provision so that all tenants will have the opportunity to buy their homes.

Because of the Labour party's Opposition to tenants, in often not wanting them to buy their homes, it has incorporated deplorable delaying tactics. Will the Minister ensure, if and when he introduces the legislation, that tenants can buy their homes immediately and that thousands of pounds of rent will not be wasted while the transaction is taking place?

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