Mr. Millan askedthe Secretary of State for Scotland what rate of inflation he has assumed for the year 1980–81 in calculating the eligible expenditure figures for that year included in the report on the 20W Housing Support Grant (Scotland) (No. 2) Order 1979.
§ Mr. YoungerI shall reply to the right hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Millanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what increase, if any, in expenditure in real terms for 1980–81 he has assumed for the repairs and maintenance and supervision and management figures included in the Housing Support Grant (Scotland) (No. 2) Order 1979.
§ Mr. YoungerNone.
§ Mr. Millanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he has not included in the report on the Housing Support Grant (Scotland) (No. 2) Order 1979 an account of his discussions with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on the housing support grant for 1980–81; and if he will now state the items in that order which have the agreement of the convention and the matters on which the convention disagreed.
§ Mr. YoungerThe Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pent lands (Mr. Rifkind), had wide-ranging consultations with authorities on 19 November. The consultations did not call for formal registration of agreement or disagreement.
§ Mr. Millanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what benefit in terms of increased housing support grant for 1980–81 a local authority will receive under the Housing Support Grant (Scotland) (No. 2) Order if it raises all the additional income it will require in that year from rents, as compared with raising it partly from rents and partly from rates or wholly from rates.
§ Mr. YoungerNone. The order provides for a fixed sum of grant for each housing authority, but my calculations are on the assumption that authorities as a whole will raise all the additional income from rents, and ratepayers will therefore suffer if this is not done.