§ 48. Mr. Mathersasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the difficulties experienced by local authorities in giving effect to means tests and rebates in respect of the rents of houses built with Treasury assistance; and whether he is prepared to lay down general rules for the guidance of the authorities in these matters?
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Elliot)Local authorities are only empowered to provide housing accommodation for the working classes and the question whether a particular applicant for a house is a member of the working classes is one for the local authority to decide. I am not aware that local
| (a) | (b) | ||
| 1. | Estimated number of insured building trade operatives in employment (a) in July, 1931, and (b) in July, 1937 | 38,768 | 52,760 |
| 2. | Estimated number of building trade operatives engaged in house building for local authorities (a) at 30th June, 1931, and (b) at 3rd July, 1937 | 4,067 | 10,041 |
| 3. | Number of houses under construction by local authorities (a) at 30th June, 1931, and (b) 30th June, 1937 | 8,969 | 25,008 |
| 4. | Average number of houses completed by local authorities per month (a) in the 12 months from January to December, 1931, and (b) in the n months from January to November, 1937 | 693 | 1,102 |
| NOTE 1. The figures in headings 1 and 2 include the following types of craftsmen: bricklayers, masons, carpenters and joiners, plumbers, plasterers, slaters and painters. They do not include labourers. | |||
| NOTE 2. The figures in heading I are arrived at by deducting from the estimated number of operatives insured in July the number of operatives recorded as unemployed at the end of June. |
§ authorities in general have difficulty in this respect, but if the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars about the cases he has in mind I shall make inquiries. The general provisions governing the granting of rebates from rent are fully stated in regulations recently issued by the Department of Health.
§ Mr. MathersLeaving aside the question of individual cases, was it not at one time the right hon. Gentleman's intention to give instructions to the local authorities as to how they should carry out these means tests and decide upon who should have houses under certain conditions, and is there any intention to carry out that idea?
§ Mr. ElliotSurely that is the point on which we conferred with the local authorities before issuing the regulations in question.
§ Mr. StephenWill the right hon. Gentleman arrange for Members for Scottish constituencies to have copies of the regulations?
§ Mr. ElliotI shall be very glad to arrange that.
§ 49. Mr. Mathersasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give, for the years 1931 and 1937, respectively, to the latest convenient date, the number of building operatives in Scotland; the number engaged in house building for local authorities; and the number of such houses produced?
§ Mr. ElliotAs the answer involves a table of figures, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the table of figures:
2149§ 50. Mr. Mathersasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any statement to make regarding the decision of Bathgate Town Council not to proceed with the building of further houses required for overcrowding and slum clearance because of the increasing costs; and whether he proposes to assist the council in their difficulty?
§ Mr. ElliotI think the hon Member is under some misapprehension. I understand that at a recent meeting the town council decided not to proceed with a scheme for the erection of 60 houses in view of the high costs, but at the same meeting they decided to invite tenders for another scheme of 120 houses for slum clearance purposes.