asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many purchasers of former council houses under the right-to-buy legislation have applied to sell their home back to the local authority; and on how many others the local authority is taking action to repossess.

In 1983–84 local authorities repossessed about 840 properties mortgaged to them. This figure represented 0·13 per cent. of outstanding loans on former council and private dwellings. Local authorities do not need my right hon. Friend's consent to repurchase dwellings mortgaged to them if the borrower is in default, and the number of such purchases is not known.