To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many council tenants bought their council homes under the right-to-buy scheme in Romford in (a) 2004, (b) 2005 and (c) 2006. (147378)

Information specific to Romford constituency is not held centrally; however the numbers of local authority homes sold through the right to buy scheme in the London borough of Havering, in each financial year since 2003-04, are tabulated as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many council tenants bought their council homes under the right-to-buy scheme in each year since 1997. (147379)

The numbers of local authority homes sold through the right-to-buy scheme, in each financial year since 1996-97, are tabulated as follows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local councils in (a) England and (b) London are not permitted to give reduced discounts on council homes sold via the right-to-buy scheme. (147405)

No local council is able to reduce the discount available to tenants under the right to buy scheme. There is no discretion for local authorities to set right to buy discounts. The maximum level of discount available under the scheme is prescribed by the Secretary of State under section 131 of the Housing Act 1985.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps the Government are taking to inform first-time buyers about the right-to-buy scheme. (147406)

Social landlords are required by section 104 of the Housing Act 1985 to provide their secure tenants with information on the provisions of the right to buy scheme. Section 189 of the Housing Act 2004 places an additional duty on social landlords to supply information to tenants to help them to decide whether to exercise the right to buy. The matters on which information must be provided are specified in the Housing (Right to Buy) (Information to Secure Tenants) (England) Order 2005 (Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 1735), and relate to the terms of the scheme (including eligibility and exceptions), the costs of home ownership (including mortgage, stamp duty, valuation fees and maintenance costs) and the risk of repossession if regular mortgage payments are not made.

Since 1980, the Government have produced a booklet for tenants, “Your right to buy your home”, which social landlords are expected to provide to their tenants. The booklet describes the terms and procedures of the scheme and the costs of home ownership.