§ 2.47 p.m.
Lord CAMPBELL of CROYMy 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 action they propose to take upon the report of the Commission for Local Authority Accounts on the failure of Dumbarton District Council, as constituted before the last council elections, to pursue a responsible housing finance policy.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (Lord Kirkhill)My Lords, 8 my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has received the findings and recommendations of the Commission for Local Authority Accounts in Scotland on the subject of Dumbarton District Council housing rents. In this case the Commission recommended to my right honourable friend that he should not make a order under Section 104 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. My right honourable friend has accepted the recommendation of the Commission.
Lord CAMPBELL of CROYMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply. Is not the most glaring case in the country of rent irresponsibility by a council confirmed by this report? An intolerable burden has been placed on ratepayers because the council's conduct disqualified them from receiving substantial subsidy. As 10 individual councillors have been held responsible and seven of them are no longer on the council, will the Government ensure that the ratepayers are not financially penalised and that an opportunity is provided for these shortcomings to be redeemed?
§ Lord KIRKHILLMy Lords, I do not dissent from the earlier part of the noble Lord's remarks. I tend to agree that an error of judgment was made by the councillors to whom he referred. I cannot respond with confidence to the second part of his question. I do not think that, under Section 104 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, there is provision for the Secretary of State to take the kind of action which the noble Lord suggests.
§ Lord GLENKINGLASMy Lords, will the noble Lord bear in mind that what my noble friend has described as an error of judgment has been going on in that area for the last 20 years, and it has been done quite deliberately for perfectly obvious reasons? I hope that the Secretary of State can take some action.
§ Lord KIRKHILLMy Lords, I can advise your Lordships' House that, as from 1st April 1977, the beginnings of a new rent structure have been under way in that particular district.
§ Lord STRATHCLYDEMy Lords, will the noble Lord ensure that something is 9 done to remedy the injustice which has been done to the ratepayers of this part of the country through no fault of their own, except, I suppose, that they elected the wrong people to represent them?
§ Lord KIRKHILLMy Lords, I can only stand on the reply I gave to the noble Lord, Lord Campbell of Croy: no part of Section 104 is capable of being interpreted as the noble Lord might wish.