HC Deb 19 November 1969 vol 791 cc1292-4
11. Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received from local authorities about delay in approval of their housing plans and tenders by his Department.

Dr. Dickson Mahon

My right hon. Friend has had few formal representations but the new cost planning system, which is designed to reduce delay and inconvenience at the tender stage, encountered some early difficulties, which are being overcome.

Mr. Eadie

Is my right hon. Friend aware that that reason has been voiced in some quarters as an excuse for curbing or delaying house building? Will he undertake to investigate the facts of the matter, to make sure that housing receives prior consideration rather than be treated by people as a matter of political propaganda?

Dr. Mahon

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for bringing that up, because we are ahead of the number of approvals last year before the system was introduced. Of course, we have had excuses in both England and Scotland, but this is the reason why there has, in effect, been a cut in house building programmes in Scotland.

28. Mr. Buchanan-Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will review the cost procedures in relation to house building proposals submitted to him by local authorities in order to reduce delays in housing programmes.

Dr. Dickson Mabon

Yes, Sir. This is being done.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

Would the Minister confirm that earlier this year these cost procedures held up approvals, contrary to what was said by the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie). Would he give an absolute assurance that the procedures for cross-checking will be streamlined?

Dr. Mabon

In the first quarter of the year there was a setback. Since then there has been a substantial readjustment by local authorities which have got used to the costing aspects of the new procedure, on which Parliament would insist in any case. We are now dealing not with unit subsidies but subsidies based on entire costs. Delays are due to bad forward planning by authorities, but they are small in number and we are trying to get over them as quickly as we can.

Mr. Eadie

Will the hon. Member for North Angus and Mearns (Mr. Buchanan- Smith) please read the appropriate issue of HANSARD? He will then see that I said nothing of the kind.