§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken since March to improve the output of new council houses.
§ Mr. William RossSince my reply to a similar Question from my hon. Friend on 6th November the Housing Rents and Subsidies (Scotland) Bill has been introduced. Rent income subsidy will continue to be paid in 1975–76.
Some local authorities have been given approval to increase their housing stock by purchase from private builders. The SSHA has been authorised to extend its programme by some 1,000 houses a year in support of authorities' slum clearance activities.
The number of new starts for local authority houses in the period January-October 1974 was 15,003 as compared with 9,856 in the corresponding period in 1973.