HC Deb 10 July 1923 vol 166 cc1164-5
34. Mr. SULLIVAN

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health in what counties or burghs are the 51,000 empty houses that he stated we had in Scotland?

Captain ELLIOT

I would refer the hon. Member to the Reports on the Census of Scotland, 1921. These give the numbers of unoccupied houses in the various districts in Scotland according to the census taken in June of that year.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman acting fairly to the House when he makes a statement which refers to the 1921 Census? It is now 1923.

Captain ELLIOT

Yes. If the hon. Member will do me the honour to read my remarks, he will see that I stated, before giving the figures, that they were the figures of the June Census, 1921. The whole discussion was on the June figures of 1921, as originally quoted by the right hon. and learned Member for Spen Valley (Sir J. Simon).

Mr. SULLIVAN

Would it be possible to circulate the information to hon. Members? We want to know where the empty houses are.

Captain ELLIOT

The figures are printed in full, and hon. Members can get them. It would be a needless expense to circulate them.

Mr. SHINWELL

When making a statement in regard to the amount of housing available in Scotland for the working classes, will the hon. Gentleman state what numbers of houses are available to-day for the working classes?

Captain ELLIOT

If the hon. Member will do me the honour of reading what I said, he will find that I specifically referred to the figures as for the June Census, 1921.

Mr. HARDIE

It has gone round in Scotland from the statement of the hon. and gallant Gentleman that there are 51,000 houses that could be used by the working classes.

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