§ Dr. ReidTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what effect the proposals contained in the recent Scottish Homes document will have on the rights of Scottish Special Housing Association tenants, as guaranteed under the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonNone. It is proposed that tenants of Scottish Homes shall have exactly the same rights as tenants of the Scottish Special Housing Association. This is made clear in the White Paper, "Housing: The Government's Proposals for Scotland" (Cm. 242), which was published last week. The White Paper also makes it clear that the Government propose to give further rights to public sector tenants, from which the tenants of Scottish Homes will benefit.
§ Dr. ReidTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the cost to the Scottish Special Housing Association of sending copies of his reply to John Reynolds to all the association's tenants in Scotland.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThis is a matter for the Scottish Special Housing Association. I suggest that the hon. Member writes to the chairman of the association.
§ Dr. ReidTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a guarantee to Scottish Special Housing Association tenants that rent levels may be subject to an independent fair rent assessment.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe rents of houses let by the Scottish Special Housing Association are722W determined by the association, within boundaries of discretion set by my right hon. and learned Friend. On transfer of these houses to Scottish Homes, it is proposed that the rents shall continue to be determined in a similar way.
§ Dr. ReidTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ballot Scottish Special Housing Association tenants on the matter of whether they wish to stay within the Scottish Special Housing Association rather than being transferred to Scottish Homes.