25. Mr. THOMAS HENDERSONasked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether he has any information as to the difference in cost and construction between the housing scheme built by the method of direct labour under and by the Glasgow Town Council and the housing schemes built and completed by private enterprise under contract to the aforementioned town council?
§ Captain ELLIOTThe estimated average difference in cost per house as between the direct labour scheme and a private contract scheme entered upon at approximately the same date is brought out at £42 in favour of the former, but the actual difference cannot be ascertained until the contracts have been completed. As the two schemes were tendered for on a different basis, it does not follow that the above difference will be actually realised. The construction is similar in both schemes.
Mr. HENDERSONWould the hon. and gallant Gentleman be prepared to take steps to have that obnoxious Clause in the Housing Bill altered so that an authority might proceed directly to erect houses?
§ Captain ELLIOTI have been struck by these figures and will look into them.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that building by direct labour is always more substantial than that which is done by contract?
§ 29. Mr. WHEATLEYasked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health if he is aware that very large numbers of Glasgow tenants are being brought before the ejection Court there weekly; that decrees are being granted in many cases, while others are continued on the understanding that the tenants make certain payments towards the arrears; that in nearly every case the persons sued have been unemployed for long periods and are in destitute circumstances, and consequently unable to pay from their meagre incomes current rent, much less arrears; and will he consider what steps can be taken to avert wholesale evictions?
§ The SOLICITOR - GENERAL for SCOTLANDWith regard to the first part of the question, I am aware that a considerable number of applications for summary removing are being made in the Glasgow Sheriff Court. As regards the remaining parts of the question, I understand that in cases where the tenants are unemployed decrees are not granted if the rent is not more than nine months in arrear or if destitution is proved. I am satisfied that the utmost discretion is being exercised both in granting and in putting into force decrees of evction for non-payment of rent.
§ Mr. WHEATLEYIs the hon. and learned Member aware that nine months' exemption is merely the period that is supposed to be covered by the recent Bryde v. Kerr case? May I take it from the reply that the proving of destitution in itself by an unemployed man will be sufficient to protect him against an ejectment warrant being granted?
§ The SOLICITOR - GENERAL for SCOTLANDDecrees are granted only in cases where it is clearly put forward that the tenant is in a position to make some payment, or in cases where decrees in absentia are given and where the tenant has made no objection to that course.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs the hon and learned Gentleman aware that decrees have been granted against people who were destitute, and that they have been evicted from their homes despite their destitution? In view of the Bill now before the House that problem will become aggravated. What steps does the hon. and learned Gentleman propose to take afterwards?