§ 41. Mr. COUPERasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the prospective demand for the new steel houses erected on the authority of the Government, any arrangements are being made regarding the process of selection of the occupiers; and whether it is intended to give the tenants any option of purchase?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe selection of tenants for the houses in question is a matter for the Second Scottish National Housing Company (Housing Trust) Limited, who are building the houses, and any applications by prospective occupiers should be addressed to the secretary of the company at 63, Frederick Street, Edinburgh. The company will be prepared to consider any proposals by tenants or others for the purchase of the houses.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENWill the right hon. Gentleman see that in the selection of tenants those with the largest families get the first choice?
§ Mr. HARDIEIs the Secretary of State for Scotland to have no control over the question of the occupiers? Was not the statement made, when the building of these houses was first mentioned, that it was for the relief of people in necessitous areas, and are the Government going to keep their promise that those who require houses most are to get them?
§ Sir J. GILMOURIf I were to answer all these questions, it would be a Debate.
§ 42. Mr. COUPERasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it has yet been decided what are to be the respective sizes of the new steel houses to be built on the selected sites in Glasgow; and if any arrangements are being made to build any of these houses of two or more storeys on the tenement principle?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe accommodation of the houses referred to will consist of three and four apartments and, in addition, a scullery, bathroom and larder to each house. The houses will be of three types, the bungalow, the two-storey cottage and the two-storey flat. No building will be more than two storeys in height and no one block will consist of more than four houses.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWhat will be the rent?
§ Sir J. GILMOURIt will vary in each case.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs it possible to get anything definite in pounds, shillings and pence, because our people have only so much money to spend each week, and we have a right to know what is to be the "rent of these houses?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member should put down a question as to the type of houses to which he refers.