§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many private sector improvement grants, including repair, conversion and standard grants, were approved in Scotland in each year from 1970 to 1984.
§ Mr. AncramThe information requested is set out in the table.
Improvement grants to private owners—applications approved Year Number of dwellings 1970 5,846 1971 7,189 1972 16,053 1973 22,388 1974 24,474 1975 8,008 1976 7,402 1977 7,422 1978 8,605 1979 10,248 1980 12,827 1981 15,156 1982 30,471 1983 77,733 1984 34,629
§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent on improvement grants in real terms, at constant prices, in Scotland in each financial year from 1970–71 to 1984–85; and what is the estimated expenditure in 1985–86.
§ Mr. AncramThe table shows the amounts, expressed in terms of 1983–84 prices, paid in improvement grants to private owners in Scotland in each of the calendar years 1971 to 1984. A consistent series of figures spanning the whole period is not readily available for financial years. Since expenditure on improvement grants is one component of non-HRA block expenditure, and will depend on how authorities choose to spend the resources allocated to them for that block, an estimate for 1985–86 is not available.
Year £ million 1971 11.2 1972 29.2 1973 43.9 1974 73.3 1975 15.6 1976 13.3 1977 13.1 1978 13.2 1979 17.2 1980 22.3 1981 27.3 1982 44.1 1983 96.3 1984 125.6
§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Scotland in what periods between 1970 and 1985 the rate of grant for housing improvement was normally 50 per cent.; and in what periods it was 90 per cent.
§ Mr. AncramThe maximum rates of grant under the house improvement and repairs grant schemes between 1970 and 1985 were as follows:522W
From Rate per cent. Improvement/Conversion 30August 1968 50 23 June 1971 75 1 October 1973 50 Improvement (Houses below tolerable standard) 27 November 1974 50 1 September 1978 75 Improvement (Housing Action Areas) 27 November 1974 *75 Standard Amenities 30 August 1968 50 23 June 1971 75 1 October 1973 50 13 April 1982 90 1 April 1984 50 Repairs 25 June 1978 50 13 April 1982 90 1 April 1984 50 Repairs (Housing Action Areas) 27 November 1974 *75 13 April 1982 90 1 April 1984 *75 Repairs (Lead plumbing works) 13 April 1982 90 1 April 1984 75 * Or up to 90 per cent. in cases of hardship.