§ Mr. MacArthurasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied with the effect of the Housing Act, 1971, in increasing the volume of housing improvement work; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellYes. The higher grants made available under the Housing Act, 1971, have stimulated a substantial increase in the volume of improvement work. In the six months to 31st March, 1972, the first two full quarters during which the provisions of the 1971 Act applied, improvement grants were approved for over 25,000 houses—owned by local authorities, housing associations and private owners. This is well over twice the figure for the corresponding six month period a year earlier.
170WTo maintain this momentum we have decided to introduce legislation to extend the availability of the higher grants under the Act for one year, to cover works completed before 23rd June, 1974.