§ Mr. McAvoyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the rules governing the calculation of council house capital debt when a council house stock is being disaggregated between two new unitary authorities. [21219]
§ Mr. Raymond S. RobertsonHousing debt in disaggregating areas is treated under the general rules governing debt transfer on local government reorganisation. We would expect housing debt generally to transfer under the Local Government (Transitional Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Order 1996.
That order gives authorities the freedom to reach local agreement wherever possible about the most appropriate treatment of the debts of disaggregating authorities and established lead authority arrangements where no alternative agreement is reached. In addition, I understand that the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has produced guidelines for authorities on how housing-related debt should be allocated between successors.