HC Deb 27 June 1973 vol 858 cc1506-7
5. Mr. Donald Stewart

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he is sending to Stornoway Town Council's letter dated 16th May on the subject of the operation of rent rebates.

The Under-Secretary of State for Development, Scottish Office (Mr. George Younger)

I am sending the hon. Gentleman a copy of the reply which was sent on 12th June.

Mr. Stewart

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply. May I draw his attention to the fact that last year's bill for rent rebates amounted to £5,000 and that the figure this year will be £12,000? Is he aware that there is a high proportion of old people in the area and that it has the highest unemployment in the United Kingdom? Does he accept that as a general principle relief of poverty on that scale should be borne by central Government funds and not by the less affluent local authorities?

Mr. Younger

The inquiries which I have been able to make so far do not suggest that Stornoway has any higher percentage of people receiving rent rebates than has the rest of Scotland in general. I think we should bear in mind that the whole of the new system of housing finance has produced great relief in the ratepayer's contribution towards housing. Of course, as the hon. Gentleman will know, the contribution to rent rebates which was previously carried totally by the ratepayer is now carried—the vast majority, at any rate—by the Government subsidy, which this year is running at 85 per cent. and at the least will be 75 per cent. in years to come.

Mr. Baxter

Does not that reply indicate clearly the terrible poverty which exists throughout Scotland? Are not the Government prepared to take automatic action to rectify the terrible wrong which has been done to our country over the years? Are they going to sit back on their backsides and tell us what is wrong and make no effort to improve the situation?

Mr. Younger

With respect to the hon. Gentleman, if it were the case that there was what he describes as terrible poverty throughout Scotland, the rent rebate system is precisely and directly tailored to deal exactly with that problem. It provides rebates for anyone who finds the amount which he is required to pay more than he can afford. Whatever else we have done, we have solved that problem. I hope local authorities will find that to be so.