§ 36. Mr. WRIGHTasked the Secretary for Scotland the weight of steel used in construction of each of the four types of houses specially selected for the additional housing subsidy; and what is the weight of steel used in other types of steel houses?
§ Sir J. GILMOUROnly two of the four makes of houses approved for additional subsidy use steel sheets in their construction. The firms are Messrs. Cowieson and Messrs. Weir of Glasgow, and the weight of steel sheets per house used by the former is 1 ton 9½ cwt. for the bungalow type, and 1 ton 8½ cwt. for the cottage type; and by the latter, 1 ton, 3¾ cwt. for the Blanefield type, 1 ton 4½ cwt. for the Eastwood type, and 1 ton 16 cwt. for the Douglas type. Before I can reply to the last part of the question, I would require to know what other types the hon. Member has in mind.
§ 38. Mr. BUCHANANasked the Secretary for Scotland whether any consideration was given to the question of employment in the steel, coal and allied trades in Scotland when making his selection of houses qualified to receive the special subsidy, as was foreshadowed in the Prime Minister's speech in Glasgow on 1st October?
§ Sir J. GILMOURConsideration was given to the question of employment in the trades referred to, along with all other relevant factors.
§ 39. Mr. T. HENDERSONasked the Secretary for Scotland the price of the 2029 lowest tender for houses selected for the additional subsidy; and of what material the house is to be made?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe lowest tender price is £360 per house. The house is of timber with brick or concrete foundations. In considering the tender price of approved types regard should be had to the respective footnotes contained in the Scottish Board of Health's Circular dated 23rd ultimo, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. HENDERSONDoes the right hon. Gentleman think there is any justification for the payment of the additional £40 subsidy for a house like this, and does he think that these houses are satisfactory to the working class for dwelling in?
§ Sir J. GILMOURWe have submitted a list of houses to the local authorities, and it will be for them to say whether they think they will be satisfactory or not. The justification for these alternative types is the impossibility of getting ordinary houses for the working classes.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with the state of affairs as it exists at the moment, when the statement is made that they are getting on better with the provision of houses for the people in England than we are in Scotland?
§ Sir J. GILMOURNo. It is because I am not satisfied with the present position of affairs that we are making these further proposals.