§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will undertake a review of the charges imposed by the Scottish Special Housing Association on owner-occupiers who purchase houses from the association, for the upkeep of amenity areas in the vicinity of houses; whether he will consider the possibility of assimulating these charges into general rate-borne expenditure; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThese charges arise from a condition included in the sale agreement under which former tenants of the Association have purchased their houses and the Scottish Development Department already keeps in touch with the Association on this matter. No review is therefore necessary. It is for district councils to decide whether they wish to assume responsibility for such amenity areas in the light of authorities' priorities and the resources available to them.