§ Mr. SillarsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the number of owner-occupiers, through right to buy, who have been refused a 50 per cent. grant towards repairs and maintenance.
264W
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonGrant is available for repairs but not for works of routine maintenance. It is awarded mainly at the discretion of local authorities. I do not have information about the numbers of applicants, in any category, who have been refused grant assistance.
§ Mr. SillarsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimates he has of what expenditure on repairs and maintenance a right-to-buy owner-occupier could expect to face in the first 10 years after purchase of(a) a three-apartment flat in a high-rise building, (b) a three-apartment terrace house and (c) a four-apartment semi-detached house.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonI have no such estimates. The expenditure required would depend upon the circumstances of the individual property concerned.
§ Mr. SillarsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is able to estimate the cost of increasing the present 50 per cent. repair and maintenance private sector housing grant to 90 per cent., 95 per cent. and 98 per cent.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonNot all grants currently made are at the maximum rate of 50 per cent. and I am accordingly not in a position to make the estimates requested.