§ 59. Mr. Westwoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will have prepared a White Paper giving for 1937–38 a list of cities and large burghs of Scotland; the population of same; the gross valuations; the rateable valuation; valuation per head of population; the rates payable per head of population; and the produce of a penny per £1 on rateable valuation, with a similar table for the counties and small burghs within each respective county?
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Elliot)A return of the areas, population and valuation of the counties, burghs, and parishes in Scotland has since the War been published triennially by the Department of Health for Scotland, the return for the year 1936–37 having been published a few months ago. I am inquiring into the possibility of publishing the additional information desired by the hon. Member.
§ 60. Mr. Westwoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will issue a White Paper giving the rents of houses and flats owned by the Scottish local authorities, similar to the Command Paper 5527 issued for England and Wales?
§ Mr. ElliotMany local authorities are in course of revising rents in consequence of the provisions of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1935, and I, therefore, think it would be premature to obtain a return of rents from local authorities at the present time. I will, however, consider the position again next year.
§ Mr. WestwoodWith the same conditions as applied in England under the 1935 Act, can there be any real reason why Scotland should not have provided for itself similar information to that given for England?
§ Mr. ElliotA review is at present in progress, and I think it would be premature to give a return while the review is still running.
§ Mr. Garro JonesIs it not a fact that Scottish local authorities are constantly reviewing their rents, either under one Statute or another, and would it not be well to have such information as is available now?
§ Mr. ElliotNo, Sir. This has to do with the regulations issued governing the grant of rent rebates, and these only came into operation on 1st September, 1937. Although some authorities, including the Kirkcaldy Town Council, revised their rents in anticipation of the regulations, the majority deferred action until the regulations were available.