§ Mr. Alexander Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the average percentage increase of public authority housing rents as a consequence of the passing of the Housing Finance (Scotland) Act; and what is his estimate of the increase in relation to private rented property housing.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellAs suggested in the White Paper "The Reform of Housing Finance in Scotland" (Cmnd. 4727), the transitional arrangements in the Act have encouraged many public authorities to make rent increases this year earlier than the last date provided for in the Act, thus minimising the amount of these increases. For this reason, a global estimate would be irrelevant.
Nor is an estimate of this kind in relation to private rented housing practicable, where rents will continue to be fixed according to the fair rent procedures introduced in 1965, but where rent allowances to less well off tenants will be payable for the first time.