§ 41. Mr. Eadieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the current position of local authorities which have refused to implement housing legislation.
§ 46. Mr. Hugh D. Brownasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities are not implementing all, or parts of, the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act, 1972; what is 396W the estimated loss of rent income arising from such decisions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellThe position of 24 local authorities on implementation of the Act has been under investigation since 1st October. Four public local inquiries, in relation to Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Falkirk and Kirkcaldy, are being held this week. Another four councils—Tranent, Stewarton, Lochgelly and Rutherglen—have now taken decisions to implement the Act: I welcome this and have been able to make them advance payments for 1972–73 of residual subsidy.
I can make no precise estimate of the loss of rent income resulting from decisions against implementation, since this will depend on the rebates which would have been payable under the 1972 Act.