§ 12. Mr. SULLIVANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his attention has been drawn to the action of the lower district committee of Renfrewshire in failing to provide suitable dustbins at their housing schemes at Lochwinnoch and elsewhere within the district area; and whether he will inquire into the matter?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI My attention has been drawn to the position of matters at Lochwinnoch, and, as the result of inquiries made, I find that it is in accordance with the local practice that tenants should provide their own dustbins where these are necessary. I see no reason to interfere with the decision of the local authority to leave the provision of dustbins to the tenants of their houses.
§ Mr. SULLIVANDoes not the right hon. Gentleman know that every other public authority has supplied dustbins when erecting houses, and that certain types are insisted upon in the interests of the public health?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI think that this is a matter which ought to be dealt with by the local authority.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIn the event of the local authority not attending to this matter, which is really a menace to the public health, will the Secretary of State press them, to the best of his ability, to do so?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI have no reason to believe that there is any menace to the 950 public health, and, until I have evidence that there is such a menace, I do not propose to intervene.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIf it be the case, as the right hon. Gentleman has admitted, that it is being left to the private individuals in a little township to supply dustbins, is not that a menace to the public health, and ought it not to be done by the municipality or the local authority?