§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many house improvement grants since 75 per cent. grants were available have been given to the latest available date; what is the cost of these; and what has been the total amount spent on house improvement since these grants were instituted;
(2) what percentage of house improvement grants given since 75 per cent. grants were available have been used by the landlord towards the cost of improving facilities in rented accommodation.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellFull information is not yet available, but I estimate that from 5th August, 1971, when the Housing Act, 1971, came into operation about 30,000 houses have been included in improvement grant applications approved for private owners, housing associations and local authorities in Scotland. The total amount of grant, in capital terms, represented by these approvals will be of the order of £5 million; and the total value of work, whether qualifying for grant or not, will be of the order of £9 million. About 85 per cent. of these houses are rented, 5 per cent. of them from private landlords.