44. Mr. MILLARasked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the recommendations, made by the Committee of representatives of Scottish local authorities appointed to advise with the Scottish Board of Health in regard to the amount of the State grant required to meet the annual deficit on future local building schemes, as to 233 the necessity for the payment of a minimum subsidy of £6 per house in the case of the larger and more populous districts in Scotland, and of a larger amount in the case of the smaller burghs and districts; and whether, in view of the higher cost of building in Scotland, he is prepared to give effect to the Committee's proposals?
§ Captain ELLIOTThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the latter part, my Noble Friend is arranging to receive a deputation from the committee referred to this week.
Mr. MILLARIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the committee in question was composed of the principal housing experts in Scotland?
§ Captain ELLIOTA special Conference has been arranged by the Secretary for Scotland. I do not see what more can be done at present.
§ 62. Mr. JOHNSTONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amounts paid by way of housing subsidies to England
| — | Private Builders' Subsidy. | Grants towards Deficits on Housing Schemes. | Total. | ||||
| England and Wales. | £ | £ | £ | ||||
| 1919–20 | … | … | … | … | — | 2,653 | 2,653 |
| 1920–21 | … | … | … | … | 2,528,552 | 525,728 | 3,054,280 |
| 1921–22 | … | … | … | … | 4,537,884 | 4,533,229 | 9,071,113 |
| 1922–23 (Estimated) | … | … | 2,450,000 | 7,500,000 | 9,950,000 | ||
| 1923–24 (Estimated) | … | … | — | 8,750,000 | 8,750,000 | ||
| 9,516,436 | |||||||
| Scotland. | |||||||
| 1919–20 | … | … | … | … | — | — | — |
| 1920–21 | … | … | … | … | 77,600 | 57,540 | 135,140 |
| 1921–22 | … | … | … | … | 280,137 | 378,110 | 658,247 |
| 1922–23 (Estimated) | … | … | 183,963 | 650,000 | 833,963 | ||
| 1923–24 (Estimated) | … | … | 15,000 | 910,000 | 925,000 | ||
| 556,700 |
§ he maximum grant of £15,000,000 provided for subsidies to private builders under the Housing (Additional Powers) Act, 1919, was allocated by the Treasury between England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland in the Goschen proportions, but, although the period originally fixed under that Act was extended for both countries, and special arrangements were made to
234§ and Scotland, respectively, for the years 1919–20, 1920–21, and 1921–22, and the estimated sums payable for the years 1922–23 and 1923–24; and if, seeing that the basis of allocation to Scotland should be eleven-eightieths of the subsidy payable to England, he will say to what extent Scotland has so far failed to receive from the Treasury its due proportion of the housing subsidies?
§ Captain KINGAs the answer is rather long, and contains a tabular statement of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the Third Report of the Committee on National Expenditure, at page 72, definitely states that only £300,000 is paid in housing subsidies to Scotland, as against £10,000,000 paid in subsidies to England, and is that in accordance with the recognised Treasury practice on the subject?
§ Captain KINGThe hon. Member will see that in the figures stated.
§ Following is the table:
§ meet the exceptional circumstances of Scottish crofters, the scheme was not adopted by private builders in Scotland to the same proportionate extent as in England.
§ As regards the housing schemes of local authorities and public utility societies, it was represented to the Treasury that a limitation of the Scottish grant to the 235 Goschen proportion of the English grant would operate unfairly to Scotland, owing to the higher cost of building in that country, and the limitation was accordingly based upon the numbers of houses, special allowance being made under this head for the smaller number of houses likely to be built in Scotland under the private builders' subsidy.
§ In the aggregate the total number of houses built or to be built in Scotland under the old subsidy arrangements is estimated at about 28,900, which differs very littlle from the Goschen proportion of the corresponding English figure (about 215,000). Progress has, however, been much slower in Scotland than in England, and, whereas in England the peak of the subsidy payable under the old housing scheme will, it is expected, be reached in 1923–24, this point will probably not be reached in Scotland until the year 1925–26.
84. Mr. MILLAR furtherasked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health when a decision will be arrived at regarding the assistance which will be provided by way of Government grant to meet the deficiency arising in connection with future local building schemes in Scotland; and whether local authorities in Scotland may now proceed with building schemes on the footing that they will participate in any grant to be made available for that purpose?
§ Captain ELLIOTWith regard to the first part of the question, this matter is being considered and will be discussed with the deputation from local authorities which my Noble Friend is arranging to receive this week. In reply to the latter part of the question, it is proposed to provide in the Housing Bill that local authorities who, with the approval of the Scottish Board of Health, have undertaken building schemes before the passing of the Act shall not be prejudiced as regards any financial assistance which may be made available under the Act on account of their having acted in anticipation of the passing of the Measure.