§ Mr. Welshasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what policy initiatives he has taken since February 1974 with regard to liaison with the Building Societies Association as far as Scottish housing is concerned.
§ Mr. William RossI maintain close liaison with the Building Societies Association about the part building societies can play in helping to meet Scottish housing needs. Following an approach from my Department, the Building Societies Association made £7 million available to supplement the funds available to local authorities for lending in the present financial year, and at the request of local authorities we are 73W currently discussing with the association the possibility of extending arrangements for co-operation between building societies and local authorities in mortgage lending.
§ Mr. Welshasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what policy initiatives he has taken since February 1974 with regard to the adequate provision of public and private finance for house building and renovation.
§ Mr. William RossThe main measures are removal of the £6 threshold for housing expenditure subsidy; removal of the moratorium imposed by the previous Government on public authority improvement schemes; increased grants for private improvements in housing action areas; improved grants to housing associations for both new building and improvement; increase in approved expense for improvement grants in both the public and private sectors; in collaboration with the building societies, stabilisation of the flow of mortgage funds.
We are currently conducting a comprehensive review of housing finance covering all sectors of housing. The results of this review will form a basis for reappraising housing policies and finances.