HC Deb 15 December 1982 vol 34 c275
7. Mr. David Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the future financial provision for private sector housing repair grants in Glasgow.

Mr. Allan Stewart

Glasgow district council has at present a large number of applications before it for repairs grant. District councils were informed on 16 November that they may increase their expenditure on home improvement and repairs grants without limit during the remainder of 1982–83. I shall give provisional allocations to councils for their housing expenditure in 1983–84 very shortly. However, I assure the hon. Gentleman that if authorities that are anxious to make progress with grant-aided improvement and repairs work can show next year that they need more resources for it, additional allocations to meet those needs will be given.

Mr. Marshall

I thank the Minister for his reply, which is most welcome. However, will he guarantee that that money will not be made available at the expense of the home loans scheme, the slum clearance scheme or the environmental improvement grant scheme?

Mr. Stewart

Yes, Sir. The allocations on the HRA account are on a different basis. If an authority can show that it has devoted 80 per cent. of its non-HRA block grant to improvement and repair grants, it can incur additional expenditure above that without limit in 1983–84.

Mr. Maxton

Has the Minister had discussions either with Glasgow district council or with COSLA on the level of rateable value above which such grants will not be provided?

Mr. Stewart

I have received representations from COSLA on that point and they are being considered. I welcome the interest of COSLA in this matter and I welcome especially the fact that COSLA has agreed to participate in a review of the details of the improvement and repair grant system which now has an increasingly important role in Scottish housing policy.

Mr. Dewar

Am I correct in thinking that the Minister said yesterday that the allocation of the non-HRA account would be similar to last year? If the additional money for the repair grants can be provided only after 80 per cent. of the allocation has been spent on repair grants, does that mean that slum clearance, home loans and environmental grants will be confined to 20 per cent. of a budget largely similar to last year's?

Mr. Stewart

The remainder of the non-HRA budget will be confined to 20 per cent. of the total. A district council must show that it is giving priority to improvement and repair grants. When it has done so, additional expenditure can then be incurred without limit. I hope that that will be widely welcomed by hon. Members on both sides of the House. I know that it will be warmly welcomed by all those who have an interest in housing improvements in Scotland.