§ Mr. Carmichaelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for the removal or improvement in the appearance of pit bings and slag heaps not suitable for commercial exploitation.
§ Mr. RossI have been urging the local authorities concerned to submit programmes of work of this kind, particularly since the grant arrangements were recently improved. I am grateful to the local authorities who have responded well: grants paid to them in 1966–67 amounted to £432,000, the highest annual
88W
§ Mr. RossBelow is a table showing the approximate deficits for the years 1960–61 to 1965–66. The account for 1966–67 are not yet available but in each new town deficits will again be higher than in the previous year. Because of the variable governing factors I cannot make accurate estimates for 1971–72, but even with the new rent schemes all four of the new town corporations will still be incurring deficits on housing which in total are likely to be larger than the sum of the existing deficits.
total so far. But other authorities could show a greater sense of urgency, and I am taking steps to emphasise this to them.