29. Major HOPEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether the order issued for the closing of 150 houses at West Benhar, Lanarkshire, on 28th May is to be enforced on that date; and what provision has now been made for the accommodation of the 700 displaced inhabitants?
The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. McKinnon Wood)I am informed that the District Committee of the Middle-Ward of Lanarkshire have prepared a scheme to be laid before the county council for the provision of 100 houses, and that, pending such provision being made, the Local Government Board have advised the District Committee to apply to the sheriff to suspend the closing order.
§ 34. Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked if the attention of the Local Government Board for Scotland has been drawn to the need for providing proper housing accommodation for miners and other industrial workers in Lanarkshire; how many housing schemes have been framed and are in course of being carried out under the Town Planning Act in the county of Lanark; in how many cases colliery owners have initiated such schemes; and what steps have been taken by the County Council of Lanark and by the Local Government Board for Scotland to deal with the situation?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe reply to the first portion of my hon. Friend's question is in the affirmative. The Board informs me that in the landward areas of the county two housing schemes—Harthill and Cleland respectively—have been framed by the District Committee and await the consent of the county council to the financial proposals involved. No schemes under the Housing Acts have been initiated by private owners, but a private scheme for the provision of houses is at present being carried out. The Local Government Board for Scotland are in communication with the Upper and Middle Ward District Committees, who are the housing authorities, with a view to assisting them in their efforts to deal with the situation.
§ 35. Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked if the Local Government Board for Scotland have received any information as to the 1793 steps which the County Council for Lanarkshire are taking to provide housing accommodation at West Benhar, where over 150 houses are to be closed by order of the sheriff on the 28th of May; whether the colliery proprietors, whose employés are occupying the condemned houses, have taken any action in the matter with a view to providing suitable housing accommodation in the district; and whether the occupiers of the condemned houses will be permitted to remain in them until other suitable accommodation is provided for them?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI am informed that while the proprietors of the colliery in which the majority of the occupiers of the houses referred to are employed are not taking any steps to provide accommodation in substitution for the condemned houses, provision is being made by one employer which will be available for a certain number of these people. As regards the remainder of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply on the same subject which I have just given to the hon. and gallant Member for Midlothian.