§ 12. Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the deep feeling that exists amongst the villagers of West Wemyss arising out of the proposed transfer of a number of the villagers to a new area because of the lack of a suitable building site in the village; and, as a suitable and quite safe site exists in the Magazine Park, building 1012 on which would make this transfer unnecessary, will he take steps to have this matter investigated?
The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Wedderburn)I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on this subject on 10th February last. No representations have been received regarding the Fife County Council housing policy for the village of West Wemyss since that date. I am informed that the site referred to in the second part of the question is not available for housing purposes.
§ Mr. GallacherIn view of the deep feeling which exists among these villagers and the threat to their habitations, will not the hon. Gentleman arrange for one of his inspectors to make an investigation of this site as a suitable site for housing purposes?
Mr. WedderburnThe selection of sites is a matter for the local authority, and I am informed that the site which the hon. Gentleman mentions is not available for housing purposes.
§ Mr. GallacherWill not the hon. Gentleman use his influence to get this site made available? Why should the villagers be drawn away from their own village when there is a site there that could be quite easily used?
§ 14. Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that in the housing of the villagers of West Wemyss preference is being given to the employés of the Wemyss Coal Company, while urgent cases of slum-clearance are neglected; and, as some of these houses are sub-basement and very dark, while others are rotten with damp and rat-ridden, will he cause an inquiry to be made with a view to getting these conditions brought to an end?
Mr. WedderburnI am informed that it is not the case that in the letting of their houses the County Council of Fife are giving a preference to persons merely because they are employés of the company referred to. The council take all the relevant circumstances into account, including the proximity of the new houses to the applicants' place of work. The order in which the council take action in respect of unfit houses is a matter which rests in their own hands. I understand that they expect that the removal of 1013 families from overcrowded houses in West Wemyss will release accommodation in fit condition for families who are at present occupying unfit houses in the village.
§ Mr. GallacherIs the Minister aware that I was in the village a week ago, and that only employés of the Wemyss Coal Company have received notices of being provided with new houses; and is he aware that I visited houses, and that if he were to go there—
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member had better write these facts to the Minister.
§ Mr. GallacherWill the Minister make a visit to the village and look at some of the houses in which people are forced to live?
Mr. WedderburnI have visited villages and towns in a great many parts of Scotland which are in much the same position, and I am fully aware of the state of affairs which exists in many parts of the country.
§ 18. Mr. Barrasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total number of houses completed in Scotland with State assistance from 1919 till 31st March, 1938, or the last available date; and the total amount of State subsidy paid in respect thereof?
Mr. WedderburnThe total number of houses completed in Scotland with State assistance from 1919 till the 31st March, 1938, is 229,112, and the total amount of State subsidy paid up to that date is £25,928,314.
§ 19. Mr. Buchananasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total number of houses in Glasgow which are occupied that are at present condemned either as being overcrowded or insanitary, or unfit for human habitation; and the total number of families which have been re-housed from houses in the above circumstances during the past 12 months?
Mr. WedderburnAccording to the report on the survey of over-crowding made by the corporation in the winter of 1935, which contains the latest available information on the subject, 74,952 houses in fit condition were then overcrowded. I am informed that 10,148 additional houses, still occupied, are on the corporation's list of insanitary houses to be dealt with under the Housing Acts 1014 as soon as alternative accommodation becomes available. With regard to the last part of the question, 3,006 families have been rehoused from unfit or overcrowded houses during the past 12 months.
§ Mr. BuchananHow long does the Department think it will be at the present rate of progress before any hope can be held out to these people of getting decent homes?
Mr. WedderburnMy right hon. Friend's predecessor has often expressed the view that he could not regard the conditions as satisfactory until the present rate of progress had been very much increased.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas MooreDoes not my hon. Friend think that this is a disgraceful record for the second city of the Empire?
§ 20. Mr. Buchananasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total number of houses which have been built by the Glasgow Corporation in the last 12 months; and the numbers for the same period in each of the last four years?
| Year ended 30th April, | Number of houses completed. | |||
| 1934 | … | … | … | 3,360 |
| 1935 | … | … | … | 4,546 |
| 1936 | … | … | … | 2,903 |
| 1937 | … | … | … | 2,182 |
| 1938 | … | … | … | 2,118 |
§ 22. Mr. Westwoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that in the Bucksburn area of Aberdeenshire builders are being allowed to recondition houses under the Housing (Rural Workers) Acts with old materials, old fittings, and grates said to be 40 years old; and what action does he propose to take to see that the local authority enforces the use of new materials for reconditioning and reconstruction?
Mr. WedderburnMy right hon. Friend is arranging for an inspector of the Department of Health to make local inquiries, and he will communicate further with the hon. Member when he receives the report.