HC Deb 13 December 1972 vol 848 cc135-7W
33. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the inquiries into the housing policies of the four local authorities in breach of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act to be completed.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

Following public local inquiries I issued default orders on 1st December to Glasgow Corporation, Lanark County Council and Falkirk and Kirkcaldy town councils.

36. Mr. MacArthur

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities in Scotland have implemented the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972, and how many have not.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

219 local authorities are implementing the Act. The remainder either have not implemented the Act or are under investigation.

Mr. Edward Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what report he has received from the auditors of the county of Lanark local authority concerning alleged illegal expenditure by the authority in connection with the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972;

(2) what reports he has received from the auditors of the county of Lanark local authority about the failure of the authority to observe the law concerning their housing revenue account income.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

I have received no interim report in the terms of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947. The appointed auditor for the County of Lanark informed me by letter on 10th October that the authority had failed to implement those sections of Parts II and IV of the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972 which required to be implemented on 1st October 1972.

Mr. Sproat

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he now proposes to take to compel local authorities to implement the Housing Finance Act.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Perth and East Perthshire (Mr. MacArthur).

Mr. Sproat

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which local authorities in Scotland are still refusing to implement the Housing Finance Act.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

Glasgow and Falkirk have not so far implemented the Act. The position of the following 13 authorities in relation to implementation is being investigated:

Counties

  • Midlothian.

Large Burghs

  • Clydebank.
  • Dunfermline.
  • Kilmarnock.

Small Burghs

  • Alloa.
  • Barrhead.
  • Cowdenbeath
  • Cumbernauld.
  • Dalkeith.
  • Denny and Dunipace.
  • Renfrew.
  • Saltcoats.
  • Whitburn.

Mr. Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities in Scotland have been notified that their housing subsidy payments are being withheld; and what further action he proposes to take.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

On 6th November, 22 local authorities were notified that I was taking no decision for the present as to the timing of an advance payment of their residual subsidy for the year 1972–73. I said that it would assist me in reaching an early decision if it were established to my satisfaction that they had taken appropriate steps to secure implementation of the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972. The deferred payments have been or are being made to seven authorities.

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