§ 1. Sir D. Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will reconsider his decision to change the method of calculating the remote areas housing subsidy, in view of the fact that this will reduce the amount paid to Highland local authorities to an extent that they will be unable to build houses to meet the needs of families who are living in houses built over a century ago.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. T. G. D. Galbraith)No,
Sir nor does my right hon. Friend accept the assertion in the hon. Member's Question.
§ Sir D. RobertsonHow does it happen with this type of legislation that a change is made in payments to local authorities in regard to houses? Does the hon. Member's Answer mean that illegal payments have been made for the past ten 1212 years? Is that the reason why they cannot be continued?
§ Mr. GalbraithThe object of the additional subsidy, as I think the hon. Member knows, is to compensate for remoteness. It was in order to bring the subsidy arrangements into accord with that purpose that the present changes have been made.
§ Mr. ManuelIs the hon. Member aware that severe housing difficulties exist in the Highland counties and that things are becoming increasingly difficult for county housing authorities in these areas by reason of this grant not being available? Will not he consider the position anew and agree to receive representations from the Highland local authorities about the difficulties which exist there?
§ Mr. GalbraithI have consulted various hon. Members who represent Highland areas and the impression that I have obtained from them is that although, naturally, local authorities preferred the old arrangements, they recognise that the new ones are fair and provide extra money for remoteness
§ Sir D. RobertsonThe hon. Member has not answered my specific question whether the previous payments were illegal, and whether that was the reason for their not being continued. That is a vital question, to which I must insist upon having an answer.
§ Mr. GalbraithThe previous payments were not illegal, but my right hon. Friend, after looking into the matter, did not feel that the subsidy was as clearly in line with the statutory provisions as it ought to be.
§ Sir D. RobertsonIn view of the thoroughly unsatisfactory nature of that answer, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment, at the first opportunity.