§ Mr. Andrew WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate for each district and islands council(a) the number of houses which have whole or partial lead plumbing and (b) the total cost at current prices of replacing all lead plumbing in the affected houses together with separate estimates for (i) the private sector, (ii) the public sector, (iii) housing associations and (iv) new towns and Scottish Homes.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonI am unable to provide such estimates at present. The responsibility for monitoring the condition of houses in Scotland rests with local authorities for houses in their districts and with Scottish Homes and new town development corporations for houses in their ownership. The Scottish Development Department has however asked those bodies for their estimate of the number of houses with whole or partial lead plumbing and their estimate of the cost of replacing it. Many returns have yet to be received; and I will write to the hon. Member when the information is complete.