asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give extra financial assistance to Midlothian district council or housing associations to tackle the problem of improving National Coal Board houses in the area, in the light of the deterioration of this housing stock and the likelihood of these houses ultimately becoming the responsibility of the local authority.

The condition of the houses is a matter for the National Coal Board. If responsibility for them is transferred to other public bodies, any improvements to them will have to be financed out the resources made available to these bodies.