§ Mr. SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, pursuant to his commitment,Official Report, 11 January, column 45, that there would never be any compulsion on any individual Scottish Special Housing Association tenant, he will make a statement explaining why the factoring of all Scottish Special Housing Association houses in the district of Ettrick and Lauderdale has been transferred from the district council housing department to the Waverley housing trust, without any prior consultation with the tenants affected or the district council; and if he will publish the names of the trustees of this body to whom this responsibility is being transferred, and the price being paid to them for this service.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Scottish Special Housing Association has agreed in principle to enter into arrangements with Waverley housing trust only for the factoring of its stock in Ettrick and Lauderdale district. Changes in factoring or management arrangements are entirely a matter for the association. The association has statutory responsibilities as landlord towards its tenants and it is for the landlord to make appropriate management arrangements so that these obligations are fulfilled. It is not customary to consult tenants on such matters.
The proposed arrangement between SSHA and Waverley housing trust does not include a commitment on future purchase of the housing stock. Any such proposals would be a matter for the SSHA or Scottish Homes in the first instance but would also require the consent of the Secretary of State for Scotland. Such consent would be withheld unless the principles set out in the guidelines by 345W the Scottish Development Department on voluntary disposals of stock by local authorities were properly reflected. In particular my right hon. and learned Friend would be concerned to be assured that the tenants had been fully consulted in accordance with the provisions set out in clause 135 of the Housing Bill currently before Parliament.
These arrangements will provide important safeguards for the interests of secure tenants of local authorities, SSHA or Scottish Homes, as the case may be.
Since the detailed arrangements in relation to the management contract are a matter for the SSHA and the Waverley housing trust has not yet been formally established, I have no precise information on the names of the trustees. I understand that Michael Ancram has been invited to be chairman, and that five tenants, two local councillors, other local community representatives and a representative of the financial institutions will be invited to serve.
On the price of the service I refer the right hon. Gentleman to my reply to the question from the hon. Member for East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson) on Thursday 3 November 1988, at column 755.