HC Deb 20 November 1979 vol 974 cc147-50W
Mr. David Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the population of the Glasgow eastern area renewal area when the Glasgow eastern area renewal area project in Glasgow came into operation; and what is the present population.

Mr. Rifkind

The precise information requested is not available. The latest estimate of the GEAR population is 45,000 at December 1977, based on a 10 per cent. sample survey of households.

Mr. David Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many retired citizens, male and female, live in the Glasgow eastern area renewal area of Glasgow.

Mr. Rifkind

The latest estimates are 2,900 men and 5,800 women at December 1977 based on a 10 per cent. sample survey of households.

Mr. David Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the (a) primary and (b) secondary school population of the Glasgow eastern area renewal area, Glasgow.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

At September 1978, the latest date for which information is available, there were 4,447 pupils attending primary schools and 4,025 pupils attending secondary schools situated within the boundary of the Glasgow eastern area renewal project. Some of these pupils come to school from outwith the area and others living within the project area attend schools elsewhere, but the precise numbers involved in these movements are not available.

Mr. David Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many adult (a) males and (b) females are unemployed in the Glasgow eastern area renewal area of Glasgow; and what percentage each is of the adult (a) male and (b) female population, respectively.

Mr. Rifkind

The only available estimates relating specifically to the GEAR area are those for December 1977, based on a 10 per cent. sample survey of households:

Number unemployed Percentage of total male/female population Percentage of economically active male/female population
Male 2,450 11 21
Female 950 4 12

Mr. David Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many juvenile (a) males and (b) females are unemployed in the Glasgow eastern area renewal area of Glasgow; and what percentage this is of the juvenile (a) male and (b) female population, respectively.

Mr. Rifkind

The only available estimates relating specifically to the GEAR area are those for December 1977, based on a 10 per cent. sample survey of households:

Number of 16–17 year olds unemployed Percentage of economically active 16–17 year olds
470 36

Separate estimates for males and females are not available.

Mr. David Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many jobs have been (a) lost and (b) created in the Glasgow eastern area renewal area of Glasgow since the Glasgow eastern area renewal project came into operation.

Mr. Rifkind

Figures for job losses are not available. It is estimated that factories completed or currently being built by the Scottish Development Agency will, by the end of 1979, have preserved some 400 jobs which might otherwise have been lost from the area and created a further 115. In addition, BSC (Industry) Ltd. has provided over 300 jobs through its Clyde workshops project.

Mr. David Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses have been (a) built and (b) demolished in the Glasgow eastern area renewal area of Glasgow since the Glasgow eastern area renewal project came into operation.

Mr. Rifkind

About 750 and 300 respectively.

Mr. David Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses below the tolerable standard there are in the Glasgow eastern area renewal area of Glasgow.

Mr. Rifkind

About 4,400—of which about 2,000 are presently included in housing action areas for improvement.

Mr. David Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been spent to date in the Glasgow eastern area renewal project.

Mr. Rifkind

Estimated total capital expenditure to October 1979 is £57 million.

Mr. David Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money still has to be spent in the Glasgow eastern area renewal project.

Mr. Rifkind

The scale of further expenditure is dependent on a range of factors, including the speed at which capital programmes are implemented and the curent review of prioties being undertaken by the participant authorities.

Mr. David Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been spent to date on environmental improvements and landscaping in the Glasgow eastern area renewal area of Glasgow.

Mr. Rifkind

Estimated capital expenditure on derelict land clearance and environmental improvements, including landscaping, to October 1979 is £4.1 million.

Mr. David Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he has recently met the Scottish Development Agency to discuss the Glasgow eastern area renewal project in Glasgow; and, if not, if he intends to do so in the near future;

(2) whether he has recently met the Glasgow district council to discuss the Glasgow eastern area renewal project in Glasgow; and, if not, if he intends to do so in the near future;

(3) if he has recently met the Strathclyde regional council to discuss the Glasgow eastern area renewal project in Glasgow; and, if not, if he intends to do so in the near future;

(4) if he has recently met the Scottish Special Housing Association to discuss the Glasgow eastern area renewal project in Glasgow; and, if not, if he intends to do so in the near future;

(5) if he has recently met the Greater Glasgow health board to discuss the Glasgow eastern area renewal project in Glasgow; and if not, if he intends to do so in the near future.

Mr. Rifkind

I chaired a meeting of the GEAR governing committee on 4 June and will be having further discussions about the project with Glasgow district and Strathclyde region on 17 December. Discussions involving the other organisations will be resumed in due course.

Mr. David Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the Glasgow eastern area renewal project in Glasgow.

Mr. Rifkind

None outwith discussions with the participant authorities about the progress of the project.

Mr. David Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any further decisions about resources for the Glasgow eastern area renewal area in Glasgow have been made.

Mr. Rifkind

No, but I assume the participants in the project will give the same relative priority to the area within their reduced budgets. The Government will continue to asisst directly through urban grant.

Mr. David Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to establish an urban development corporation for the Glasgow eastern area renewal area of Glasgow.

Mr. Rifkind

I am reviewing the existing machinery of the GEAR project but have not yet reached any decision on what, if any, changes should be made.