HC Deb 20 December 1972 vol 848 cc370-1W
Sir F. Maclean

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

Mr. Gordon Campbell

Failure by Saltcoats Town Council to implement the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972 could cost ratepayers the equivalent of a rate of at least 13p in the £.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

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

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. Bruce-Gardyne

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

Mr. Gordon Campbell

I estimate that failure by Dundee Corporation to implement the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972 in full from 1st October 1972 could cost ratepayers the equivalent of a rate of at least 4p in the £.

Mr. Brewis

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the extra cost to ratepayers in Kilmarnock 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 Kilmarnock Town Council to implement the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972 could cost ratepayers the equivalent of a rate of at least lop in the £.

Mr. Brewis

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what report he has received from the auditors of the Kilmarnock 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 Kilmarnock 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.