HL Deb 09 May 1973 vol 342 cc404-5

2.39 p.m.

THE EARL OF DUNDEE

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 what functions they foresee for housing associations and housing societies in their proposal for solving the outstanding problem of Scottish housing.

TIIE MINISTER OF STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (LORD POLWARTH)

My Lords, the Government look to the Housing Corporation under its new Chairman, Lord Goodman, to help the housing associations and housing societies play a much more active part in supplementing the efforts of the public authorities and the private builders—by providing for special needs, by building houses for renting and for co-ownership, and by improving houses. Housing associations can contribute particularly in the improvement of houses in urban areas, so helping to maintain an adequate stock of houses to rent. New subsidies and financial provisions are available to this end.

THE EARL OF DUNDEE

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether he is aware that we should all welcome the help and advice of the noble Lord, Lord Goodman, in this matter? In view of the fairly widespread failure of local housing authorities to fulfil our needs, may I ask him whether it will now be possible to give a great deal more work to the Scottish Special Housing Association which, when it began, was intended to be a major housing instrument and not just an auxiliary in our housing policy?

LORD POLWARTH

My Lords, while not necessarily accepting the implication of the noble Earl regarding the widespread failure of local authorities, I would say that the Government attach special importance to the work of the Scottish Special Housing Association. He will see from the White Paper, Homes for People—Scottish Housing Policy in the 1970's, that we are prepared to authorise the Scottish Special Housing Association to build houses for incoming workers wherever the need arises, and that they have already been authorised to build 15,000 houses for completion over the next four years—a higher rate of programme than at any time in their history.