HC Deb 02 August 1972 vol 842 cc540-3
10. Mr. Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further information he has now received from local authorities in Scotland regarding the effect of the implementation of the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act.

22. Mr. MacArthur

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further consultations he now proposes to hold with local authorities regarding the implementation of the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act.

Mr. Younger

I met representatives of the Scottish local authority associations on 31st July to discuss aspects of the implementation of the Act. Further consultations will be held as necessary.

Mr. Ewing

When the Under-Secretary has these further consultations will he discuss this matter with local authorities, and particularly with Stirling Town Council, which on balance is an anti-Labour local authority, which has decided to include in its rent books a notice that the rents are being increased, not on the will of the council but as a direct result of the Tory Government's legislation? Will he recognise that concern is felt by local authorities in Scotland about the impact which this Measure will have on their tenants?

Mr. Younger

It is not for me to say what Stirling Town Council should or should not do in the terms of what it says to its tenants, but I am glad that the council has succeeded in agreeing that it will implement the Act, as the vast majority of local authorities in Scotland have done.

Mr. MacArthur

Does my hon. Friend agree that every responsible tenant and every sensible local authority will welcome the implementation of this Act, which gives much help to those in need?

Mr. Younger

Yes, Sir. My hon. Friend is correct. I am sure that many local authorities will have realised the benefits being given for the first time to people by way of rent allowances which they have never had before, better slum clearance, a universal rent rebate scheme and the saving on the rates which will be worth while. All these things will be attractive to many people in Scotland.

24. Mr. Robert Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many housing authorities have now informed him that they will not implement the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Bill when it becomes law.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

A small number of authorities expressed opposition to the Bill before its enactment. Since it received Royal Assent I have received no intimation that any local authority intends not to implement its provisions.

Mr. Hughes

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the fact that he has not so far received representations does not mean that opposition to this Act among the local authorities has lessened in any way? Will he undertake to have further discussions with the local authorities to see whether it is possible to postpone the application of the Act and in any event, before he decides to take any default action under the Act, will he be prepared to report to the House of Commons?

Mr. Campbell

My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary had a meeting only the day before yesterday with local authority representatives about the working of the Act. I and all my hon. Friends will do all we can to help local authorities in understanding and operating the Act. I cannot give the undertaking about reporting to the House because the House is supposed to be in recess as from the end of next week.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

Will my right hon. Friend try to find out how many tenants, whether of private accommodation or local authority housing, living in areas controlled by such authorities stand to have their rents reduced by the Act? Will he publicise that information so that if there should be any delays in the receipt of those reductions those concerned will know who is responsible?

Mr. Campbell

I will certainly consider that. It is well known that a large proportion of public authority tenants will benefit from this Measure. Those who are most in need will have their rents reduced or rents will not go up, or there will be special rebates. Those private tenants who never had a rebate scheme before will have a rent allowance scheme. It would be folly to deny them the benefits of the scheme. This is hypothetical, however, because no such situation has yet arisen.

Mr. Ross

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of the people affected are not paying any rent at present because of the provisions of other Acts? Is he further aware that over 90 per cent. of councils already have a rebate scheme and in many cases the Government's rebate scheme is very much worse than many of these? Bearing in mind that the Act has been in force for only six days, does the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is not surprising that he has not received any representations? Many local authorities will also be on holiday. Will he tell us whether it is his intention to send out circulars about this to local authorities, telling them how he will construe his duty under the Act and what he proposes to do? Will he send copies of all such circulars to every Scottish Member?

Mr. Campbell

As regards the right hon. Gentleman's last point, we are sending out circulars to supplement the information already passed to the local authorities and I will certainly consider sending copies to Members of Parliament. As regards the entering into force of the Act, I have already made special arrangements by a commencement order that it enters into force tomorrow so as to give local authorities about four weeks' notice before 1st September, which is the date when notice would have to he given about rents to tenants. As regards rents, not only will there be the same number of people—probably more—who do not pay rent because of supplementary benefits, but under the Act there will be nil rents and there will be rent rebates on a standard scale throughout Scotland, not limited to those local authorities which at the moment have miscellaneous and various schemes.