§ 7. Mr. Lambieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the rôle being played by the Scottish Special Housing Association; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YoungerMy right hon. Friend will be considering the association's contribution to Scottish housing as part of his general review of the housing programme, with a view to discussion with its council of management.
§ Mr. LambieIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the considerable despair and unrest among tenants of the Scottish Special Housing Association about the ever-increasing differences between their rents and those of other local authority tenants in the same area? Will he therefore agree to advise the association to sell its existing houses to any local authority which wishes to buy them?
§ Mr. YoungerThe latter part of that question raised an altogether different issue. I do not accept in general that the association's rents are excessive, remembering its very generous rebate schemes. I understand that the increases which it has put through were made with the approval of the previous Government.
§ Mr. David SteelIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the contribution made by the Scottish Special Housing Association in the Borders in recent years? Will the present Government encourage it to go ahead with its Tweedbank scheme as soon as possible?
§ Mr. YoungerI do not wish at this stage to prejudice discussions with the association about its future rôle, but I am certain that it will play its part in future housing developments in Scotland.