HC Deb 08 November 1949 vol 469 cc1040-1
18. Sir William Darling

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent the proposed reductions in capital expenditure will affect rural housing, rural water supplies and rural roads.

Mr. Woodburn

As regards expenditure on housing, including rural housing, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made on 1st November. As regards the public water programme, later starting dates will be fixed for certain new schemes, but no interference with existing schemes is contemplated. Expenditure on rural roads in the Highlands and Islands for which my Department is responsible will be maintained at its present level during 1950.

Mr. Gallacher

In view of these two Questions, has the Secretary of State for Scotland taken any steps to have the cuts discussed by the Scottish Grand Committee?

Commander Galbraith

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider making a comprehensive statement as to the effects on Scotland of the economies which the Government have proposed?

Mr. Woodburn

Hon. Gentlemen seem anxious to discover cuts in Scotland which have not taken place. The Government are not making what are called "slashing attacks" on Scotland; savings will be effected in Scotland which, as I explained last week, are being spread over a large number of the activities of the Government and in capital expenditure. It is not really possible to gather all these items into what is called "a comprehensive statement."

Mr. MacLeod

Will the Secretary of State bear in mind the tremendous leeway which the Highlands of Scotland have to make up—[HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear"]—and that further expenditure is necessary and desirable in the national interest?

Mr. Woodburn

I am sure the hon. Member could not have heard my reply, which stated that the Government are going ahead as fast as possible with the rural roads in Scotland and that no interference is taking place in that programme. The difficulty in the Highlands is that we can only do work for which the labour and materials are available.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Is my right hon. Friend as satisfied as his colleague the Minister of Labour that there is a sufficient labour force in Scotland to deal with the problem of building houses for the rural areas?

Commander Galbraith

Does the answer of the Secretary of State mean that he cannot say where these economies are to fall and what effect they will have on Scotland?

Mr. Woodburn

The Government are effecting a certain saving in Scotland, in such a way as to interfere to the minimum extent with current progress. Each saving, therefore, is a matter of very great judgment and delicacy and not a matter which can be dealt with by figures thrown over at Question time.