§ 34. Mr. DavidsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to meet Glasgow district council to discuss housing conditions. [36064]
§ Mr. Raymond S. RobertsonMy right hon. Friend has no plans to do so. However, one of my first visits as Housing Minister was to Easterhouse in Glasgow on 8 August 1995. I saw at first hand the problems of that estate and the significant investment programmes being devoted to tackling them. Scottish Homes expects to invest around £15 million in Easterhouse in 1995–96. The specific developments I viewed involved over 100 new or improved units costing just over £6 million.
I have also accepted invitations from the council to speak at the city housing conference on energy which is being held in November and to visit the district later in the year to see the housing conditions for myself and to learn how the council is utilising the £116 million capital resources available to it for housing investment this year. I look forward to hearing more about the council's efforts to involve the private sector in meeting Glasgow's housing needs.