§ 30. Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a direction to the Scottish Special Housing Association to postpone contemplated rent increases for 1964, in view of recent and substantial increases to Scottish Special Housing Association tenants.
§ Mr. DempseyHas the Secretary of State borne in mind that over the last three years the tenants of the Scottish Special Housing Association houses have paid increases in rents totalling £500,000? Does he realise that needy characters are no longer able to pay the rents of the houses? Is he aware that at the present time the Committee in Scotland is considering increasing the rent by another £12? Does the Minister believe that this is fair, especially in those areas where there is a hard core of 981 unemployment and where the rent rebate schemes of this association are in no way effective?
§ Mr. NobleI am absolutely satisfied that the S.S.H.A. rents are reasonable and that the operation of their rent rebate scheme is satisfactory. As the hon. Gentleman probably knows, the rent rebate scheme starts where wages are below £13 10s. a week.