§ 24. Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Scottish Special Housing Association have recently proposed increasing rents by more than £10 per year in Coatbridge and Airdrie; and if he will cancel this increase in view of the restrictions imposed by the Government on incomes.
§ Mr. MaclayI am aware of the Association's decision about Airdrie rents. Where rents have been unduly low, reasonable increases are not inconsistent with the Government's incomes policy. Furthermore the Association operate a rent rebates scheme which will meet genuine cases of hardship for individual tenants.