§ 52. Dr. Dickson Mabonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the weekly increase in council house rents needed for existing dwellings on the basis that housing subsidies to the burgh of Greenock are abolished; and what is the estimated weekly increase needed to offset the subsidy on dwellings under construction on or before 1st October, 1970.
§ 56. Mr. Gregor Mackenzieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has now made of the weekly increase in council house rents needed on the basis that housing subsidies to the Burgh of Rutherglen are abolished.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellI am making no such estimates because, as I have frequently stated, the Government have no intention of abolishing housing subsidies. They are to be redirected so that more help is given where it is needed.
If hon. Members are advocating the abolition of all housing subsidies, I hope that they will let me have details of their proposals.
§ Mr. Oswaldasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now estimate the average weekly increase in rents of local authority houses in Edinburgh, arising from the immediate removal of the rate subsidy element and the Exchequer element.
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§ Mr. Gordon CampbellI would refer the hon. Member to the answers I have given earlier today to his hon. Friends.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if Government housing subsidies to local authorities were removed, what estimate he has now made of the average level of council rents in Musselburgh.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellI am making no such estimates because, as I have frequently stated, the Government have no intention of abolishing housing subsidies. They are to be redirected so that more help is given where it is needed.
If the hon. Member is advocating the abolition of all housing subsidies I hope he will let me have details of his proposals.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if Government housing subsidies to local authorities were removed, what estimate he has now made of the average level of council rents in Edinburgh.
§ Mr. Lambieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now publish estimates of the average weekly increase in rents of existing council houses if the Government subsidy and local rates contribution are terminated now in the Burghs of Irvine, Kilwinning and Troon and in the Ayr County Council.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellI am making no such estimates because the Government do not intend to abolish Exchequer housing subsidies. They will be redirected so that more help is given where it is needed.
We also intend to lighten the very heavy housing burden on Scottish ratepayers, but I cannot say more before our current discussions with the local authority associations have been completed.