§ Mr. RoyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what decisions he has reached about the allocation of resources for 1998–99 under the New Housing Partnership initiative. [40932]
§ Mr. MacdonaldTwenty three councils are to be allocated a share of the £35 million which is available in 1998–99 under the New Housing Partnerships initiative for a range of projects to tackle Scotland's housing needs.
In December 1997, all councils were invited under the initiative to submit proposals which met certain key criteria. The bids received were first assessed by an advisory group involving the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, Scottish Homes, the Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations. Allocations for 1998–99 are in line with the group's recommendations. Some earmarked funding is being held back for a number of councils whose proposals met the criteria but for which further information has been sought. The balance is being held back for distribution later in the year.
The amounts being allocated are set out in the table.
£000 Council Amount awarded in 1998–99 Aberdeen City 330 Clackmannanshire 780 Dumfries and Galloway 100 Dundee City 1— East Ayrshire 1,261 East Dunbartonshire 1— East Lothian 2,945 East Renfrewshire 25 Edinburgh City—three projects 7,718 Falkirk 200 Fife 125 Glasgow City—three projects 8,350 Highland—two projects 600 Inverclyde 33 North Ayrshire—two projects 402 North Lanarkshire—two projects 1,792 Perth and Kinross 187 Renfrewshire 93 Scottish Borders 135 Shetland 200 South Lanarkshire 1— Stirling—two projects 310 West Lothian 2,600 1 Amounts to be finalised following further development of proposals.