DWELLING-HOUSES (SCOTLAND). (Hansard, 20 February 1855)

§ MR. DUNLOP
said, he begged to move for leave to bring in a Bill to facilitate the erection of dwelling-houses for the working classes in Scotland. An increased accommodation for the working classes in Scotland was rendered necessary by the increase of population and the decrease of dwelling-houses, especially in 1650 Edinburgh, where the increase of public buildings had caused such a deficiency of dwellings that families were forced to herd together in insufficient space, and in cellars, with all their accompaniments of filth, misery, and vice. Much had been done of late years by the benevolence of individuals, but much yet remained to be done. Mere individual benevolence was not sufficient to supply the want, and the object of his Bill was to induce capitalists to invest in the erection of suitable dwelling-houses with a reasonable prospect of a return. The first obstacle was the unlimited liability of all parties engaged in associations for building dwelling-houses; and he proposed by the Bill to give a limited liability to such parties under the authority of the sheriffs of the different counties, who were to approve of the sanitary regulations adopted, and to see that the required capital was subscribed. He also proposed to remove another obstacle, by substituting for the present expensive conveyance of land, where dwelling-houses were to be erected, the lodging in the office of the sheriff a plan of the boundaries of such dwelling marked with a particular number. A register hook was to be kept in the office of the sheriff, and the transfer could be executed by an entry in the book of the number of the plan, which would cost about 5s. or 10s. instead of 7l. or 8l. There was some difficulty in getting rates for such dwellings, and also in converting bad houses into good ones. In Glasgow there were large blocks of houses in the obscure parts of the town which had no known owners, and were inhabited by chance comers, and were dens of pollution and disease; but no one could acquire property in them, or build on and improve them, because no title was to be traced. He proposed by his Bill that any competent association for building and inproving dwelling-houses should, by consent of the local magistrates, apply to the Court of Session, and on a certain sum being paid into Court, and retained in case the heirs to the property should appear, that a Parliamentary title should be given to the purchaser free of any future claim. These were the principal provisions of the Bill, to which he hoped there would be no opposition.

MR. ELLIOTT
said, that, as a Scotch Member, he could not conceive anything more calculated to raise the moral character of the people of Scotland, than the hon. Member's proposal; and its benefit 1651 would be felt not only in the great towns but extended over the whole country,

§ MR. KINNAIRD
said, he begged to thank the hon. Member for having introduced this measure, and cordially agreed with him, that a mere benevolent society, without some legislative provision, would be found ineffectual to correct the evil in a great city; with the assistance of such a measure as this, however, he conceived it might be done.

§ MR. WILKINSON
said, he must express a hope that the measure would be extended to England at some future period.

§ MR. CARDWELL
said, he could not conceive any subject of greater interest than this, and he should be exceedingly happy to see a Bill brought in upon it; so far as his department was concerned, the Government would render any aid they could to make it a perfect measure; but, at the same time, he must point out to the hon. Member that there were some difficulties in dealing with the subject.