§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will discuss with the chairman of the Scottish Special Housing Association the issue of freezing the rent increases announced for Scottish Special Housing Association houses.
§ Mr. Allan StewartMy right hon. Friend approved the rent increases some time ago. Having taken account of points previously discussed between my predecessor and the chairman of the SSHA, he took the view that the increases proposed were reasonable, maintaining as they do a reasonable balance between the interests of the tenants and of the taxpayers who pay the subsidy to the SSHA.
The SSHA operates a statutory rent rebate scheme which is designed to ensure that no tenant should have to pay more rent than Parliament has decided he can reasonably afford.