HC Deb 03 March 1976 vol 906 cc1285-7
1. Mr. Robin F. Cook

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the number of housing schemes submitted to him by local authorities for approval.

The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Hugh D. Brown)

Many more new local authority houses were approved in 1975 than in either of the two previous years, but schemes for improving council houses have not so far taken up all of the current allocations. It is primarily for each authority to decide how its housing needs should be met.

Mr. Cook

Will my hon. Friend confirm that the Edinburgh housing authority has failed to take up the full allocation of money available to it for modernisation of council houses? Will my hon. Friend give us the relevant figures? Is he aware that in my constituency there is an empty block of council housing at Tron Square for which designs are available for modernisation but for which work has been delayed by the failure of the Conservative council to take up the money available? Will—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman is embarking upon yet another supplementary question.

Mr. Brown

For 1976–77 the total available to local authorities for work starts on housing, environmental improvement and capitalised house repair work is £95.1 million plus a further £3.9 million under the Job Creation Scheme. Edin- burgh's bid for 1976–77 was only £1 million but on the formula it could have had £4.7 million. Therefore, without wanting to criticise Edinburgh District Council, I must say that there is money available if it will get on with the job.

Mr. Canavan

Is my hon. Friend aware that in the course of the current financial year Stirling District Council has managed to start building only seven council houses? In view of the long waiting list in the district, will my hon. Friend instruct that council to pull its socks up and try to improve upon its abysmal record, which is the typical work of a council controlled by a Conservative-SNP coalition?

Mr. Brown

It is not part of my job to instruct local authorities or to criticise them. In housing terms I am aware that the Stirling District Council is not one of the best authorities considering the many problems facing it.

Mr. Welsh

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that to compare the 1973 and 1974 house-building statistics with those of 1975 is a shameful con trick? He knows that they were the lowest figures for house-building since 1951, almost a quarter of a century ago. Does he accept that local authorities are being swamped by this problem? Will he accept—

Mr. Speaker

Order. Fair rations. The hon. Gentleman has already asked two supplementary questions.

Mr. Brown

The Scottish National Party is much more skilful at con tricks than I am. I did not make any comparison with 1973 or 1974. All I am saying is that record sums of money are available for the kind of work mentioned in the Question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Cook).

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

Will the hon. Gentleman look at the situation of some local authorities which are anxious to proceed with housing schemes but which, because of the understandable cut-backs in public expenditure at regional level, have problems about getting sufficient finance for sewerage and water supplies? This problem is giving rise to conflict. I know of instances in the Tayside area and I should be pleased to give the Minister detailed examples. I hope that he will look into the matter.

Mr. Brown

I cannot be held responsible for the backward Conservative authorities in many country areas which should have made better provision in the past. This is a problem. We work in collaboration and as colleagues with regional and district authorities and we are achieving some measure of success.

Mr. Lambie

Before my hon. Friend criticises any more local councils, will he now criticise his own Department, which has been holding up Kyle and Carrick District Council's application to build 126 houses in Logan Drive in Troon? My hon. Friend should get his finger out.

Mr. Brown

As we are in the mood to exchange compliments, I point out that it has taken my hon. Friend about three months to write to me on the matter about which he is now expressing great concern.

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