HC Deb 27 October 1993 vol 230 cc824-6
13. Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he intends to take following the publication of the Scottish house condition survey 1991 report by Scottish Homes; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Local authorities have been asked to set out strategies and targets for tackling below tolerable standard houses and housing subject to condensation and dampness in their housing plans and housing capital programmes from 1994–95 onwards. In addition, the improvement and repair grant system, which is a major tool in tackling poor housing, is currently under review.

Mrs. Ewing

Does the Minister realise that the question was what he and the Scottish Office were going to do to tackle the appalling condition of approximately 30 per cent. of Scotland's housing stock, which is subject to dampness, condensation or mould? Not one hon. Member who represents a Scottish constituency does not have to deal daily with such problems. Is it not most important that the Government should wipe out the housing capital debt, thereby releasing capital for our local authorities to renew and renovate their housing stock and bring it to a proper level of energy efficiency?

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The hon. Lady's request would result in either a great deal more taxation or a great deal more borrowing, which is not our policy. We have asked all district councils in Scotland when drawing up their housing plans and strategies to give top priority not only to dampness but to below tolerable standard stock and homelessness, which is precisely what they are doing. We want a concerted strategy as soon as possible and substantial funds will be allocated in due course. Indeed, some have already been allocated, for example, the £513 million for capital investment in housing for this year.

Mr. Kynoch

In the context of surveys of housing conditions, can my hon. Friend give us some idea when the results of the radon survey in Deeside may be forthcoming?

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The Scottish Office has commissioned the National Radiological Protection Board to make further surveys in the Dee valley and along a stretch of the Caithness and Sutherland coast. I understand that the board expects to publish the findings of the second survey into radon gas before the end of October. I should mention that radon is a natural radioactive gas whose presence is determined by local geology, especially by the existence of more uranium than usual in the rocks. The matter is being followed up quickly.

Mr. Connarty

I wonder at the Minister's complacency. Can he really mean it when he boasts about housing conditions in Scotland, when 392,000 houses suffer from condensation, and the survey reported that 267,000 are suffering from dampness? I hope that he does not mind if I correct his figures, but if we add the 52,000 senior citizen households with dampness to the 65,000 with condensation, we see that one in five of all Scottish households that include a pensioner have either dampness or condensation. I do not know how the Minister can possibly boast when, after 14 years of the Government's bungling, less than three quarters of Scottish houses have decent central heating and less than half have double glazing.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

I am not boasting at all. Of course there are problems, but I am trying to put the matter in perspective. Thoroughly thought-out planning and strategies are required to deal with it. The percentage of houses with severe dampness is relatively small, and, of course, top priority must be given to dealing with such houses throughout Scotland.