§ Mrs. Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will introduce legislation to ensure that all proprietors who are served with closing orders on their houses receive fair market value compensation whatever the date of the service of the closing order may be; 45W
- (2) if he will introduce legislation to require local authorities renting properties, the keys of which they have acquired following service of closing orders, to pay over the rents collected or a reasonable proportion thereof to the individual proprietors;
- (3) if he is aware of the practice of local authorities which, having served closing orders under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1966 on the ground of unfitness for human habitation, and having informed the affected proprietors that they are prohibited from re-selling or renting their properties, then proceed to acquire the keys from the proprietors and to rent the properties on their own behalf; and what action he will take.
- (4) if he is aware of the practice of local authorities which rush through procedures under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1966 by serving closing orders to avoid possible payment of compensation to proprietors under definition in the succeeding Act; and what action he will take.
§ Mr. RossChanges in the compensation arrangements in instances where statutory action was initiated on or after 1st August, 1968, were proposed in paragraph 22 of the White Paper "The Older Houses in Scotland—A Plan for Action" (Cmnd. 3598) of July 1968 and enacted in the Housing (Scotland) Act 1969. I have no proposals for further changes. On the other matters referred to I have no information but will consider any which the hon. Member cares to send to me.