§ Mr. Welshasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many housing action areas are in existence; and how many are now being planned by local authorities.
§ Mr. William RossBefore a housing action area can come into existence, the local authority must make a final resolution not less than two months after it has made a draft resolution and submitted it to me. So far, I have received 23 draft resolutions and agreed that they should proceed, and I expect final resolutions to be made shortly in eight of these cases.
435WI have no information about the number now being planned: but I am in various ways encouraging local authorities to make full use of the new powers. A further circular giving detailed guidance was issued on 30th June.