HL Deb 21 January 1999 vol 596 c118WA
Lord Selkirk of Douglas

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What authorities in Scotland other than Glasgow are to have their housing debt written off, and within what time-scale; and whether they intend to treat all authorities in Scotland equally, or to treat Glasgow as a special case. [HL442]

Lord Sewel

A number of councils, including Glasgow City Council, are studying the feasibility of transferring all their housing stock into community ownership. We have indicated that where transfer proposals represent good value for money and are selected to proceed, we will be prepared to provide assistance with debt in those cases in which the debt exceeds the receipt obtained by the council. Detailed arrangements will need to be agreed in individual cases and be affordable. Applications for assistance with debt in these circumstances will be considered equally and competitively.