HC Deb 01 May 1928 vol 216 cc1496-7
16. Mr. WESTWOOD

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the rents charged for three- and two-apartment houses in Midlothian, built with State assistance under the Housing Acts and controlled by the county council, are from £4 to £8 dearer for three-apartment houses, and £3 dearer for two-apartment houses than the rents charged for similar housing accommodation in Fife; and will he take action to have the rents in Midlothian brought more into conformity with rents charged in the other counties?

Sir J. GILMOUR

The rents of the houses in question are regulated, not only by the number of their apartments, but also by such considerations as the size of these apartments, the type, construction, and amenities of the houses, the site, the locality, and the classes of tenant. These considerations, together with the fact that the rents fall to be determined on different bases according to the powers under which the houses were erected, obviously permit of rental diversities as between the various counties and I find no reason for any interference on my part with the discretion of the local authorities in the matter.

Mr. WESTWOOD

Is it not possible to take into consideration, in settling the rents to be charged, the wages earned by individuals in the locality?

Sir J. GILMOUR

I think that the local authorities have very wide powers in this matter, and that it ought to be left to them.

Mr. MONTAGUE

Does the right hon. Gentleman's answer mean that people of a better type have to pay more or less?

Sir J. GILMOUR

A great many factors come into consideration in the settlement of these cases, and it can only be with the local knowledge and by the powers of the local authorities that the matter can be settled, having regard to the variety of interests concerned.

Mr. MONTAGUE

One of the factors mentioned in the right hon. Gentleman's answer was the class of tenants, and that was why I put my supplementary question.

Mr. WESTWOOD

Is it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman's own Department had to use the greatest pressure to compel them to build houses, and is not this now a case of making it as difficult as possible for ordinary tenants to inhabit the houses?