To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any proposals to seek to reduce the costs of (a) buying and (b) selling a home.

We want house buying and selling to be as simple, inexpensive and as fair as possible to both parties involved. This is best achieved by healthy competition between those offering services to house buyers and sellers, and by the development of efficient practices. For further information, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 6 February 1990 by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, Official Report, Vol. 166, col. 545.