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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2013/jun/03/mps-sale-council-houses-ebay
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| MPs suggest sale of council houses via eBay | MPs suggest sale of council houses via eBay |
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| Council tenants should be able to buy their homes via eBay, a committee of MPs has suggested. Putting the "right to buy" scheme on well known online shopping sites was one way to boost "digital engagement", they said. | Council tenants should be able to buy their homes via eBay, a committee of MPs has suggested. Putting the "right to buy" scheme on well known online shopping sites was one way to boost "digital engagement", they said. |
| Other government initiatives which could be promoted via supermarket websites and retailers such as Amazon were the recently launched Help to buy mortgage guarantee and the Green Deal home energy efficiency package. | Other government initiatives which could be promoted via supermarket websites and retailers such as Amazon were the recently launched Help to buy mortgage guarantee and the Green Deal home energy efficiency package. |
| "In order to use digital technology effectively in open policy making, digital experts within the civil service and outside should work more closely with policy teams to explore opportunities for digital engagement," the Commons public administration select committee said. | "In order to use digital technology effectively in open policy making, digital experts within the civil service and outside should work more closely with policy teams to explore opportunities for digital engagement," the Commons public administration select committee said. |
| "For example, the Department of Energy and Climate Change could trial the use of eBay, Amazon and supermarket websites to open up the Green Deal and allow residents to access this offer through established retail channels." | "For example, the Department of Energy and Climate Change could trial the use of eBay, Amazon and supermarket websites to open up the Green Deal and allow residents to access this offer through established retail channels." |
| The move was among ideas put forward by the committee in a report about extending the policy making process to the wider public. | The move was among ideas put forward by the committee in a report about extending the policy making process to the wider public. |
| It welcomed the government's commitment to "open" policy making but said it must be done on a "Wiki" basis – with input taken at every stage of the process, not only after a position has been agreed as with traditional "consultations". | It welcomed the government's commitment to "open" policy making but said it must be done on a "Wiki" basis – with input taken at every stage of the process, not only after a position has been agreed as with traditional "consultations". |
| Social media and other digital sources would have a significant role to play in that, the MPs said, though they cautioned that the government was already at risk of excluding older and disabled people by giving it too much prominence. | Social media and other digital sources would have a significant role to play in that, the MPs said, though they cautioned that the government was already at risk of excluding older and disabled people by giving it too much prominence. |
| Backing the push for more open policy making, as well as the "contested" process where outside bodies bid for cash to lead development on particular areas, the MPs said there was "great potential … to deliver genuine public engagement". | Backing the push for more open policy making, as well as the "contested" process where outside bodies bid for cash to lead development on particular areas, the MPs said there was "great potential … to deliver genuine public engagement". |
| But they warned: "If the government wants to maximise the benefits of this new approach to policy it will mean far more than simply being an encyclopedia of information, policy and guidance. | But they warned: "If the government wants to maximise the benefits of this new approach to policy it will mean far more than simply being an encyclopedia of information, policy and guidance. |
| "We believe it will mean adopting an open source or 'Wiki' approach to policy; that is one in which public opinion, ideas and contributions are sought and welcome at any and all stages of the policy cycle, continually to inform the strategy and policy of government. | "We believe it will mean adopting an open source or 'Wiki' approach to policy; that is one in which public opinion, ideas and contributions are sought and welcome at any and all stages of the policy cycle, continually to inform the strategy and policy of government. |
| "In time, the government should be able to demonstrate that it has adopted this approach if it is to be seen as moving away from old processes and embracing a new relationship with the citizen." | "In time, the government should be able to demonstrate that it has adopted this approach if it is to be seen as moving away from old processes and embracing a new relationship with the citizen." |
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