§ 83. Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the papers in which on any occasion any of the dwelling-houses in Gretna or Eastriggs have been advertised; whether he is aware that in August last the tenants were given the chance to buy their houses; that since that date all prospective tenants have been refused tenancy of the empty houses; that as people left the district the authorities have refused to re-let their houses; whether any steps have been taken, and, if so, what, to prevent the houses falling into disrepair; and whether he will now make a general statement as to the policy of the Government in respect of all these dwelling-houses?
§ Mr. SNOWDENAs the answer is necessarily detailed and long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. SOMERVILLEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have received a very large number of letters from Glasgow and neighbouring districts saying that houses are available at Gretna, and the Government will not let them. Can anything be done to enable these people to get the houses which are available?
§ Mr. SNOWDENThe hon. Member cannot expect me to be aware that he has received numerous letters from Glasgow. In reply to the second part of his supplementary question, I may say that that matter was dealt with by an answer some weeks ago. That answer was to this effect, that a number of these houses have been offered for sale to tenants and many 442 houses have been sold. The property is up for auction next week and, obviously, it would be to the detriment of the value of the property if now we were to let houses and the sale was encumbered by such conditions.
§ Mr. SOMERVILLEIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment on the first available opportunity next week.
§ Following is the answer:
§ As regards the first part of the hon. Member's question, the properties at Gretna and Eastriggs, including the dwelling-houses, have been extensively advertised for disposal in the London, Scottish, local, provincial and trade papers. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative, and a considerable number of the tenants have, in fact, bought their houses. As regards parts three and four of the question, it was not considered advisable, in the public interest, in view of the impending sale by auction of the dwelling-houses, to create fresh tenancies. As regards the fifth part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stirling and Clackmannan on the 16th June. As regards the last part of the question, the policy of the Government is to sell these dwelling-houses, and they will be offered for sale by public auction at Carlisle next month.