§ Mr. MacArthurasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to bring forward proposals, as mentioned in the White Paper "Homes for People: Scottish Housing Policy in the 1970's", to make the improvement grant scheme more effective.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellI have today published a White Paper "Towards Better Homes: Proposals for dealing with Scotland's older housing" (Cmnd. 5338), which contains the Government's proposals for dealing comprehensively with the older, sub-standard houses in Scotland, following the increasing momentum achieved over the last two years on house improvements and slum clearance. While maintaining this momentum generally, the Government propose to introduce special provisions and powers for areas of greatest need.
The main proposal is for the declaration by local authorities of "housing action areas," in which there will be new procedures for dealing with substandard houses by clearance or improvement, or both. Subject to consultations with local authority representatives and others concerned, and to consideration of the forthcoming report of the Environment and Home Office Sub-Committee of the Expenditure Committee, which has been considering the improvement grant arrangements, I intend to bring legislation forward as soon as possible to give effect to these proposals.