§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new housing associations and co-operatives are expected to be formed over the next two years.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe registration of new housing associations and co-operatives is a matter for Scottish Homes. However, I understand that Scottish Homes expects that between 20 and 40 new associations and co-operatives will be formed over the next two years. The decision to apply for registration by Scottish Homes rests with the bodies themselves and therefore precise estimates of numbers and timing of registration are not possible.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate the average level of housing association grant which is intended during the current year and for 1990–91 in Scotland; and what are the highest and lowest percentages of housing association grant agreed for any developments respectively, approved to date.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonNo average level of housing association grant is intended. Scottish Homes has been set an increased output target in terms of the number of houses supplied per £ million of public finance (after allowing for inflation), for the current year of 15 per cent. and for 1990–91, of 17½ per cent.
The target was set in this way to allow Scottish Homes to operate the new financial regime flexibly. It can be achieved by a combination of factors including the introduction of private finance and increasing efficiency. Accordingly, I have no information of the percentages of housing association grant agreed to date.