§ 19. Mr. Hugh D. Brownasked the Secretary of State for Scotland which local authorities his Department have designated exporting authorities for housing purposes under the Housing and Town Development (Scotland) Act, 1957; what has been the total cost to such authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. Dickson MabonGlasgow Corporation is the only designated authority in Scotland. I understand that up to the end of its last financial year it had paid just under £720,000 to 45 receiving authorities and that it has estimated its contribution for 1968–69 to be a further £160,000, representing payment for some 11,400 houses.
§ Mr. BrownWould not my hon. Friend agree that this unique burden is 1358 grossly unfair to Glasgow? Would he look very closely at the disastrous intention of the Progressive Party to postpone redevelopment schemes and oppose Erskine township because of the financial burden?
§ Dr. MabonI accept that there is a good deal of misunderstanding about this, and I should view with horror, as would my right hon. Friend, any abandonment or slow-down by Glasgow of any of these housing developments. In fairness, the city should face the fact that, on the latest calculations, for a three-apartment house in a multi-storey, the net rateable burden on Glasgow is £100 over 60 years, as opposed to an exporting authority contribution of £14 for 10 years. There is clearly some advantage to the city in accepting this thin-out. I accept my hon. hon. Friend's point and we are very concerned about the attitude of the present administration in Glasgow.