Housing (Scotland) Act 1987

Grants for thermal insulation

252 Schemes for grants for thermal insulation

(1) Local authorities shall make grants, in accordance with such schemes as may be prepared and published by the Secretary of State and laid by him before Parliament, towards the cost of works undertaken to improve the thermal insulation of dwellings in their district.

(2) Schemes under this section shall specify—

(a) the descriptions of dwelling and the insulation works qualifying for grants, and

(b) the persons from whom applications may be entertained in respect of different descriptions of dwelling.

(3) The grant shall be such percentage of the cost of the works qualifying for grant as may be prescribed, or such money sum as may be prescribed, whichever is the less.

(4) A scheme may provide for grants to be made only to those applying on grounds of special need or to be made in those cases on a prescribed higher scale; and for this purpose "special need" shall be determined by reference to such matters personal to the applicant (such as age, disability, bad health and inability without undue hardship to finance the cost of the works) as may be specified in the scheme.

(5) In this section, "prescribed" means prescribed by order of the Secretary of State made with the approval of the Treasury.

(6) An order shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the House of Commons.

253 Finance and administration of schemes under s. 252

(1) Finance for the making of grants under section 252 shall be provided to local authorities from time to time by the Secretary of State.

(2) A local authority is not required, nor has power, to make grants under section 252 in any year beyond those for which the Secretary of State has notified them that finance is committed for that year in respect of the authority's district.

(3) In the administration of grants under section 252 local authorities shall comply with any directions given to them by the Secretary of State after consultation with their representative organisations.

(4) The Secretary of State may, in particular, give directions as to—

(a) the way in which applications for grants are to be dealt with, and the priorities to be observed between applicants and different categories of applicant, and

(b) the means of authenticating applications, so that grants are only given in proper cases, and of ensuring that the works are carried out to any standard specified in the applicable scheme.

(5) The Secretary of State shall, with the approval of the Treasury, pay such sums as he thinks reasonable in respect of the administrative expenses incurred by local authorities in operating schemes under section 252.