HL Deb 28 February 1967 vol 280 cc996-7

2.38 p.m.

THE DUKE OF ATHOLL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government for how many houses in Scotland applications were received for a standard grant under Sections 19 to 21 of the House Purchase and Housing Act 1959 between the passing of that Act in May, 1959, and the coming into operation of the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1963 on 15th June, 1964; and of these applications how many were approved; how many such applications were received between 15th June, 1964, and 31st December, 1966 (or the latest convenient date), and of these how many have been approved.]

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SCOTLAND (LORD HUGHES)

My Lords, in the five years to June, 1964, 7,480 applications for standard grants were approved. The corresponding figure for the two and a half years from July, 1964, to December, 1966, was 3,533. I regret that comprehensive information is not available about the number of applications made to local authorities. The noble Duke will, of course, be aware that a standard grant must be given if the conditions prescribed in the Act are complied with.

THE DUKE OF ATHOLL

My Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for that information, and at the same time ask him this question. Does he not think that these figures make rather disappointing reading, and could this not in part be due to the fact that the 1963 Regulations are unduly restrictive, particularly so far as rural areas are concerned?

LORD HUGHES

I do not think so, my Lords. If we look at these figures we see that the rate at which they have been running is fairly steady. There was a peak of applications in 1962, but since then they have been running at a fairly steady rate, about 1,400 a year.

THE DUKE OF ATHOLL

My Lords, but would not the noble Lord agree that there are many houses that would still have a very useful life if they had these standard amenities added, and that due to the building Regulations they cannot be added without causing undue expense?

LORD HUGHES

My Lords, there are perhaps many reasons why more applications for grants have not been made, but I am not certain that the noble Duke is right in attributing what he does to the building Regulations.