Crofts

HC Deb 08 December 1976 vol 922 cc233-4W

Mr. MacCormick

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of crofts registered under the Crofting Commission in the seven crofting counties of Scotland at the latest date for which figures are available; and how many workers are currently employed on these crofts.

Mr. Hugh D. Brown

The number of crofts entered in the Register of Crofts maintained by the Crofters Commission was 18,072 at 30th November 1976. Some of these are worked jointly and it is estimated that there are about 13,600

			Average cost of 4-apartment house† £	Interest rate‡ Per cent.	Notional weekly charge§ £
1970 (fourth quarter)	…	…	4,095	9½	7.51
1971 (fourth quarter)	…	…	4,736	8¼	7.58
1972 (fourth quarter)	…	…	5,352	9¼	9.57
1973 (fourth quarter)	…	…	7,750	11⅜	16.98
1974 (fourth quarter)	…	…	10,126	16¼	31.65
1975 (fourth quarter)	…	…	11,316	15	32.65
1976 (third quarter)*	…	…	12,044	14⅜	33.88

Notes:

Subsidy payments have not been paid on a per house basis since 1968.

Total interest repayments are not meaningful unless discounted over the period of the loan.

^* Figures for the fourth quarter of 1976 are not yet available.

† Excluding land, site servicing and fees.

‡ Public Works Loan Board rate at mid-quarter.

§ Based on loan repayments and excluding maintenance and management costs.

Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average construction cost of a four-apartment local authority house; and what would be the total capital and interest repayments and the economic rent if prevailing interest rates were reduced to 10 per cent., 8 per cent., 6 per cent., 4 per cent. and 2 per cent., respectively.

Mr. Hugh D. Brown

The estimated average construction cost of a local authority four-apartment house in the third quarter of 1976 was £12,044, excluding the costs of site servicing and fees. The weekly charge needed to cover the loan repayments would be £33.88. If interest

working units. The number of workers employed on these crofts is not available but the agricultural returns submitted at the June 1976 Census for 4,810 of the larger crofts recorded the employment of 311 full-time workers and 602 part-time workers in addition to the occupiers.