asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will specify the areas of housing expenditure to be affected by the reduction of planned spending for 1976–77 of £10 million; and if he is satisfied with the situation that Scotland is suffering from a higher than proportionate share of these housing cuts.

I expect rents to make a contribution towards increased housing costs and therefore to help reduce public expenditure. The projected reduction of £10 million in public expenditure in Scotland reflects the proportion of public authority housing in Scotland to that in England and Wales.