§ Mr. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the report of the working party on the transfer of housing in Scottish new towns will be completed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YoungerThe working party completed its report this summer. Printing difficulties delayed its publication but it is now available. I am arranging for copies to be sent to Scottish Members with new towns in their constituencies and to have a copy deposited in the Library.88W The working party included representatives of the Industry Department for Scotland, the new town development corporations and the district councils, nominated by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. The working party's terms of reference were to devise a model scheme for the transfer of rented housing owned by Scottish new town development corporations to the district councils for their areas. The scheme was to be applicable, with adjustments, to all five new towns when the wind-up process for each development corporation began. The working party was asked to take account of a number of factors, ranging from the financial implications of transfer to the possible need for legislation.
I welcome the working party's report which will be of considerable practical value when the time comes to begin the transfer process. This will not occur until a development corporation has begun to be wound up and as I announced on 14 November that wind-up will not begin before April 1990. In the meantime the working party has suggested that development corporations and district councils may be able to ease the eventual transfer process by taking preparatory steps in advance. These would include moving towards a common approach on rental structures, and in general matters of policy and administration where this is not already the case. The working party has also made a number of recommendations for legislation. We will be considering these carefully, with a view to ensuring that any necessary legislative provision is made in good time.