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1240/5(1832)
QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY 1st APRIL 2003, BY THE DEPUTY OF ST. JOHN
Question 1
- Will the President inform members of any limits that apply to the purchase price of property under the Assisted House Purchase Scheme?
- Will the President inform members whether the Committee intends to bring the matter of the Assisted House Purchase Scheme to the States for debate, and, if so, when?
Answer
- There is no limit to the purchase price of property under the Assisted House Purchase Scheme other than that the property must be one suitable for occupation by a person falling within Regulation 1(1)(a)-(j)
- The Assisted House Purchase Scheme represents long-standing States policy. At the present time the Housing Committee has no plans, other than as described in the answer to question 2, to change any aspect of the Scheme, and therefore the question of a States debate does not arise.
Question 2
Will the President inform members whether or not the Committee is reviewing its policy on the acquisition of property in a company name, and, if so, whether this matter will be brought to the States for debate, and when?
Answer
I made the Housing Committee's position quite clear with regard to the Regulations relating to the acquisition of individual residential property in a company name in the statement I made to the States on 25th September 2001, and a copy of that statement is attached for Members' information.
I suspect the questioner is intending to refer to proposals that my Committee has agreed, in principle, in respect of applicants who are eligible for a loan under the Assisted House Purchase Scheme. These proposals relate to such individuals being able to purchase individual property through the medium of a company in their individual ownership, which would enable the Housing Committee, the Law Officers, and the Treasury to be free of the administration of both purchasing and continuing to own residential property, whilst enabling the Housing Committee to maintain control of occupation of such property.
Before proceeding with these proposals the Committee is awaiting advice from the Law Officers' Department with regard to any potential conflict which might arise between these proposals, and the Regulations as they currently stand. The Committee is of the view that the public of the Island should not be owners of such properties, if an alternative method of enabling such senior essential employees to be housed is available.