§ 13. Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what instructions he has given to the Scottish Special Housing Association in relation to investment in areas of above-average unemployment.
§ Dr. Dickson MabonThe Association's future building programme is designed mainly to support industrial development. A substantial part of it will be in areas of high unemployment.
§ Mr. DalyellDoes my hon. Friend realise that not only Government supporters view with great enthusiasm the expansion in the activities of the Scottish Special Housing Association which has been encouraged by the present Government? Do we have an assurance that every possible opportunity is taken to use the S.S.H.A. as an instrument of regional development according to certain priorities?
§ Dr. MabonYes; I am quite convinced—so is my right hon. Friend—that this is so. This year we would hope that we can get more than 2,000 houses completed by the S.S.H.A. for the first time since 1960. In my hon. Friend's constituency and in the adjacent part of Midlothian we hope to start 1,850 houses in the next three years.