HC Deb 23 April 1969 vol 782 cc465-6
30. Mr. Brewis

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will list the local authorities which had not achieved by 1967 a rate of 10 per 1,000 houses in their granting of housing improvement grants; and which authorities have not operated the scheme.

Dr. Dickson Mabon

The numbers of local authorities are 24 and five respectively. I will circulate details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Brewis

As the Collingworth Report described the decision of certain local authorities not to give these grants as inexcusable, and sometimes because they did not wish to support the private housing sector, will the hon. Gentleman make sure that these authorities carry out the Government's policy by making these grants mandatory?

Dr. Mabon

I should not like to give a definite answer to that at this juncture. I should like to consider it. I agree that all kinds of pressure could be brought to bear on these authorities to give grants. I think, therefore, that it would be fair to call on the hon. Gentleman to persuade Whithorn in his constituency to do so, on the hon. Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Mr. David Steel)—I am sure that his local authority will readily help him in Lauder—on the hon. Member for Perth and East Perthshire (Mr. MacArthur) in relation to Alyth, on the hon. Member for Ayr (Mr. Younger) in relation to Ayr, and on the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. Gordon Campbell) in relation to Grantown-on-Spey.

Mr. Speaker

Order. Lists make long answers.

Following are the details: Local authorities which by 1967 had approved fewer discretionary improvement grants than 10 per 1,000 private houses (those which had approved none marked *). Alyth*, Ayr*, Barrhead, Bathgate, Bearsden, Bo'ness, Clydebank, Coatbridge, Dundee, Dunns, Glasgow, Grantown-on-Spey*, Hamilton, Helensburgh, Lauder*, Milngavie, Motherwell and Wishaw, Paisley, Renfrew, Ruther-glen, Stewarton, Tranent, Whitburn and Whithorn*.