To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to when Mrs. Jean Hopwood of 12a Therapia road, SE22, may expect completion of the purchase of her home from the London borough of Southwark under the right-to-buy scheme.

I understand that this case has been subject to delay and involves some unresolved negotiations. I trust that Southwark council will do everything that it can to enable satisfactory completion of the sale. The Government have introduced measures which enable tenants to seek financial redress in cases where local authorities do not perform within statutory time limits. These are available, if appropriate, in this case.