§ 86. Mr. Brewisasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses he expects to be completed in 1970.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellAbout 33,500 houses were completed in the first nine months. I cannot say how many more will be completed in the last quarter.
§ 102. Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement about the Government's policies to reallocate housing subsidies to provide more for those in greatest need.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellThe aim of the Government's policies, as announced to the House yesterday, is to replace the present undiscriminating subsidies by financial help directed to those who need it most. Instead of being used to reduce the rents of all tenants, regardless of their circumstances, subsidies will be applied to meeting special needs, such as slum clearance and exceptionally high building costs, and also towards rent rebates for both public and private sector 369W tenants with low incomes. Any rent increases will be made by reasonable steps. Details will be discussed with the local authority associations.
I believe that these proposals will encourage both new house building which is required to meet needs, and also the improvement of older houses.
Houses Completed Houses Started Public* Sector Private Sector Total Public* Sector Private Sector Total Aberdeen … … 6,800 781 7,581 6,294 735 7,029 Scotland … … 193,323 48,575 241,898 190,154 52,029 242,183 * Local authorities, SSHA. New Towns, housing associations and Government Departments.