Member

Right to buy is not the problem; it is part of the solution. As my noble friend Lord Young of Cookham mentioned, it could provide the resources to build more social homes. As we will come on to later in this Bill, we believe—as does the noble Baroness, Lady Thornhill—in at least a one-for-one replacement. That means two homes rather than one; it means two families, rather than one family, having a home, and it means a reduction in council waiting lists. In discussions, the Minister has said that the Government want to exceed that target. We share that ambition and would be very pleased if it was achieved, but if that is the case, how does it make sense to ban or curtail right to buy, if that would deliver more social housing? It is all rather puzzling. Banning right to buy not only benefits existing tenants but will result in additional social homes, so why would you ban or restrict it?