§ 9. Mr. ChisholmTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of Scottish Office expenditure was devoted to housing in (a) 1978–79 and (b) 1995–96. [780]
§ Mr. Raymond S. RobertsonThe figures are 15.8 per cent. and 4.3 per cent. respectively.
§ Mr. ChisholmNow that the Government have admitted that they were wrong about the government of Scotland, will they also admit that they have been wrong to cut housing expenditure year after year and to allow councils to spend less and less on house building and modernisation? Does the Minister realise that with existing resources, it will take 20 years for Edinburgh district council to complete its window replacement programme and that thousands of homes also require central heating and other improvements? Will he think of those in cold homes and those in no homes when he makes his housing decisions? Will he also lobby the Chancellor of the Exchequer for an expansion of the home energy efficiency scheme in the Budget next week so that more job-creating insulation work can be carried out?
§ Mr. RobertsonThe comparison that the hon. Gentleman asked for is as misleading as it is useless. Transfers of responsibility from other Whitehall Departments to the Scottish Office have significantly increased the overall size of the Scotland programme since 1978–79. As the hon. Gentleman should know, housing subsidies are now paid through the housing benefit system and 300,000 public sector houses have been sold. Both of those factors substantially affect the share of expenditure attributable to housing. The hon. Gentleman would not expect me to say anything ahead of next week's Budget.
§ Mr. Matthew BanksGiven the fact that public expenditure per head of population in Scotland is 14 per cent. higher than the United Kingdom average, can my hon. Friend reaffirm his commitment to the housing sector in Scotland? Does he agree that it is vital that we continue to encourage the private rented sector, in particular housing associations, to provide high-quality, affordable housing to those in greatest need?
§ Mr. RobertsonMy hon. Friend is absolutely right to draw attention to the level of investment in housing, despite the fact that, since 1978–79, as I said, 300,000 public sector houses have been sold. Despite that, the allocation per house issued to local authorities for 1995–96 was higher in real terms than the equivalent figure for 1978–79. That comparison would have been better than the one about which the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Leith (Mr. Chisholm) first asked.
§ Mr. IngramThe Minister is aware of the problem affecting 264 of my constituents in East Kilbride with the identification of asbestos in houses built by the development corporation. What additional help will the 239912 L 652 Minister give to local authority or other housing agencies in East Kilbride to remove that major danger to the health of the community?
§ Mr. RobertsonI am disappointed and surprised at hon. Gentleman because he has pursued this with me, and I have offered to meet with him and a delegation. I believe that that is a better way to pursue the issue than shouting at each other across the Floor.
§ Mr. WelshHas the Minister had an opportunity to read the homeless persons charter for Scotland which outlines the desperate plight facing tens of thousands of homeless persons in our country? Applications from the homeless have risen by 175 per cent.—from 15,000 to 43,000—during the past 10 years. Why are the Government cutting the finance for housing provision in Scotland? When the need is great, the Government simply say no.
§ Mr. RobertsonLike the hon. Gentleman, I welcome the publication of the charter as an expression of homeless persons' views. We recognise the need to take account of the views of the users of the homelessness service, not just the providers. I have a copy of the charter and I will study carefully the recommendations that particularly refer to the Scottish Office.