§ 35 Mr. R. MORRISONasked the Secretary for Scotland (1) if he will give the comparative prices per foot of superficial area for the four different types of houses selected for special subsidy, and the prices per foot of superficial area for the Glasgow roofing house, the Braithwaite house, and the Atholl house, quoted for in respect of the special subsidy;
(2) if he is aware that, after including normal roof, washing basin and tub, the price of the Coralite house passed for special subsidy works out for Coralite three-room flatted type of an average of 587 feet super at 14s. 6d. per foot super, while the Atholl all-steel house of 772 feet super of similar type works out at 11s. 5d. per super foot, or 3s. 1d. cheaper than the Coralite house; and, seeing that one is a Dutch patent, giving little employment, and the other a Scottish product, giving considerable employment in the engineering, steel and coal trades, he will consider the giving of the special subsidy to the Atholl steel house;
1175 (3) whether he is aware that the flat roof of the Coralite house, that has been passed for special subsidy, is guaranteed by the makers to last only for three years, and if he will insist upon a normal roof for this type of house; and, if so, what will be the difference in price?
§ 38 and 39. Dr. DRUMMOND SHIELSasked the Secretary for Scotland (I) if he is aware that, in proportion to size and accommodation, Atholl steel houses, as offered to the Scottish Board of Health under special subsidy condition, are less costly than one of the types selected; and, having regard to the fact that Atholl steel houses were passed by the Moir Committee and also that the Atholl Company offered to comply with the other conditions as to labour, etc., will he state his reasons for excluding Atholl houses from the four selected for special subsidy;
(2) if he is aware that according to Form 7, 23rd November, the Coralite house provided for flat roof and did not provide for lavatory basin and tub; that the cost of these items to place this house on a par with the others is £26; and that if he adds this extra cost in computing his total cost the Coralite house is more expensive than the Atholl; and, in view of this, will he state why the Atholl house was excluded from the four types selected?
§ 41. Mr. T. KENNEDYasked the Secretary for Scotland the cost per superficial foot of the four types of houses selected for the special subsidy and for the other types of houses for which prices were obtained?
§ The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Sir John Gilmour)The final selection of types of houses was made after careful consideration of all the relevant facts and the Atholl house, among others, had to be ruled out on the ground of cost. I cannot accept the basis on which the rates per foot of superficial area are arrived at and compared. This rate varies inversely with the size of the house, because certain fittings are common to all sizes and are not appreciably affected by an increase in superficial area. The tenders submitted for the different types are not uniform and, therefore, the comparative figures asked for by the hon. Member are not available. With regard to the Corolite 1176 house, I am advised that the roof, as tendered for, is satisfactory, and that the guarantee referred to is merely a guarantee of maintenance by the contractors and should not be confused with the life of the roof. It is correct that the inclusion of additional items would increase the cost of Corolite house, but I see no reason for insisting on these.
§ Mr. MORRISONIn view of the fact that some of the local authorities have turned down the approved types of houses altogether, will the Secretary for Scotland give them the option of having the Atholl house?
§ Sir J. GILMOURNo. As I have already explained, the houses submitted to the local authorities under the additional subsidies scheme were distinctly defined on the question of price.
§ Dr. SHIELSWhy is it that we on these benches have to stick up for the Duke of Atholl against the Conservative Government, and is it not the case that the Weir house is really being pushed on the local authorities by the Government because by that means they hope to attain the breaking up of the trade union rates of wages.
§ 42. Mr. KENNEDYalso asked the Secretary for Scotland what local authorities have now accepted houses with the special subsidy, and the types and numbers of houses which they propose to build?
§ Sir J. GILMOURAs the county council elections took place on 1st instant, and district committees could not be reconstituted in time to allow of consideration of the matter of the special subsidy by 14th instant, it became necessary to extend the time for submission of their proposals until 31st instant; and I am not, therefore, in a position to supply the information asked for in the question.
§ 77. Mr. STEPHENasked the Secretary for Scotland the cost of the houses in each case of the four firms which have been selected for the additional subsidy of £40 per year; and what the cost of the Atholl house would have been if that firm had been selected for this purpose?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI am sending the hon. Member a copy of the circular issued on 23rd ultimo by the Scottish Board of Health containing the cost of 1177 all types of houses included in the approved list. I am also forwarding to him particulars of the tender prices for the various types of the Atholl house.