HC Deb 14 December 1972 vol 848 cc226-8W
Mr. Edward Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the extra cost to ratepayers in the county of Lanark which has been incurred by the failure of the local authority to implement the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

I estimate that ratepayers in the county of Lanark will be paying at least 10p in the £ more in rates than would have been required if the local authority had implemented the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972 from 1st October 1972.

Mr. Edward Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what amount of subsidy will be lost in the county of Lanark because the local authority refuses to accept the new slum clearance subsidy introduced under the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

I cannot calculate the amount of subsidy until I receive a claim based on the slum clearance expenditure actually incurred. Local authorities have until 31st March 1973 to submit claims relating to the financial year 1971–72. The rate of subsidy under the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972 is 75 per cent. of the annual loan charges on eligible expenditure.

Mr. MacArthur

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the extra cost to ratepayers in Barrhead which has been incurred by the failure of the local authority to implement the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

Failure by Barrhead Town Council to implement the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972 could cost ratepayers the equivalent of a rate of at least 8p in the £.

Mr. MacArthur

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what report he has received from the auditors of the Barr-head local authority concerning alleged illegal expenditure by the authority in connection with the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972;

(2) what reports he has received from the auditors of the Barrhead local authority about the failure of the authority to observe the law concerning its housing revenue account income.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

None. It is open to any ratepayer to draw the attention of the auditor to any alleged breach of the law by the authority.

Mr. Clark Hutchison

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what reports he has received from the auditors of the Cumbernauld local authority about the failure of the authority to observe the law concerning its housing revenue account income;

(2) what report he has received from the auditors of the Cumbernauld local authority concerning alleged illegal expenditure by the authority in connection with the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

None. It would be for any ratepayers in Cumbernauld who wished to do so to draw such an alleged failure to the attention of the auditor.

Mr. Clark Hutchison

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the extra cost to ratepayers in Cumbernauld which has been incurred by the failure of the local authority to implement the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

Failure by Cumbernauld Town Council to implement the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972 could cost ratepayers the equivalent of a rate of at least 1p in the £.

Mr. MacArthur

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the extra cost to ratepayers in Cowdenbeath which has been incurred, by the failure of the local authority to implement the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

Failure by Cowdenbeath Town Council to implement the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972 could cost ratepayers the equivalent of a rate of at least 12p in the £.

Mr. MacArthur

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what report he has received from the auditors of the Cowdenbeath local authority concerning alleged illegal expenditure by the authority in connection with the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972;

(2) what reports he has received from the auditors of the Cowdenbeath local authority about the failure of the authority to observe the law concerning its housing revenue account income.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

None. It is open to any ratepayer to draw the attention of the auditor to any alleged illegal expenditure.