I thought I had allowed reasonable latitude in regard to these questions. I will hear a brief supplementary from Deputy Sherlock.

In view of the fact that managers of local authorities are at present in the process of asking people on social welfare or low incomes to discuss their repayments — in some instances people have not got decisions — is the Minister saying that, irrespective of a person's capacity to pay, their application to purchase should be agreed by the local authorities?

As long as the local authority concerned received the application before the end of December, then it is proper, valid and live and it is a matter then between the local authority and the applicant to work out what is best in the interests of both of them. There is nothing barring someone on social welfare from participating in this scheme. Indeed I am encouraging it and I made that quite clear to the local authorities involved. I should like everyone to have the opportunity of owning their own homes.

I must call another question.

If people cannot——

Obviously if the local authority are satisfied that people cannot make their repayments it is hardly in the interests of the individual to pursue an application. However, circumstances can change and, if an application has been received, it does not have to be dealt with before 1 May. It will take quite some time to deal with the 40,000 applications received.