10. Mr. DUNCANMILLAR asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been directed to the fact that the scheduled prices of materials required in connection with the Middle Ward housing schemes in Lanarkshire have been greatly increased owing to the War, and thru the extra cost hereby incurred will make it impossible to fix the rents of such houses on an economic basis; and whether, having regard to the employment which such schemes are giving during the present crisis and to the need for providing adequate housing accommodation at an economic rent in these districts in Lanarkshire where the existing buildings have been already condemned, he will consider as to meeting the increased cost by a special Grant to the local authority in charge of the schemes in question in order that they may at once be proceeded with?
The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. McKinnon Wood)Representations have been made to me in regard to an increase in the cost of building, but no fund is available from which I could make a grant in the form proposed.