HC Deb 05 April 1967 vol 744 cc45-6W
Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in a table details of the new rent structures in the new towns of Scotland compared with existing rents in other new towns in Great Britain.

Mr. Ross

I am sending to my hon. Friend a set of extensive tables showing the standard rents to be reached in the Scottish new towns by 1971–72, and the graduation of rents below the standard rents according to the income of the tenants, under the comprehensive scheme recently announced by the development corporations.

The full standard, ungraduated rents to be reached in Scotland by 1971–72 are broadly equivalent to the 1966–67 rents at present payable in the English new towns.

I regret that because of the number of new towns involved, the absence of a comprehensive scheme of rents for all the English new towns, and the number of variable factors, all the information requested cannot be made available in a suitable table.

Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what criteria he based his approval of the new rent structure in new towns.

Mr. Ross

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton).

Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the rents charged for different types of houses in each of the new towns in the month of March in 1951, 1955, 1959, 1964 and 1966, respectively.

Mr. Ross

The following table gives the average standard rents for three apart- ment and four apartment houses, built for general needs, in November of each of these years. The figures for March of each year would not be significantly different. These figures are exclusive of any abatements.

NEW TOWNS IN SCOTLAND
Average standard rent (November)
3 Apt. 4 Apt.
£ £
1951
East Kilbride *39:17: 7
Glenrothes *40:—:—
1955
East Kilbride 36:16: 1 42: 3:10
Glenrothes 36:16: 1 41: 5:10
1959
Cumbernauld 27:12:— 29:17: 8
East Kilbride 28: 4: 1 33: 1: 4
Glenrothes 33:—:— 36:—: 6
1964
Cumbernauld 56:15: 3 67:16: 1
East Kilbride 49: 8: 8 60:18: 9
Glenrothes 40:13: 2 45:13: 1
1966
Cumbernauld 69: 2: 4 80:12:—
East Kilbride 61:19: 4 78:17: 4
Glenrothes 56:15: 4 62:12: 4
Livingston 55: 5:— 68: 9: 4
* This figure covers houses of both sizes.