§ 22. Mr. Buchanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what study his Department has made of the consequences of the Budget upon the local authority house building programme in Scotland.
§ Mr. Allan StewartThe expenditure provisions contained in the budget include an extra £5 million for environmental improvement schemes in housing areas in Scotland. Eligible expenditure levels for home improvement and repair grants have been increased by 20 per cent. These measures, taken with the forthcoming increase from £400–£600 in the approved level of expenditure for Exchequer contributions to environmental improvements, and open-ended arrangements for home improvement and repair grants, should greatly assist local authority housing programmes and the construction industry.