§ 15. Mr. JOHNSTONasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the allegations addressed to his Department by the Scottish Farm Servants' Union regarding the laxity and delay by many Scots county authorities in enforcing various sanitary and housing statutes; whether any single local authority in rural Scotland has carried out its statutory duties in respect of the housing of 1368 farm workers; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Sir John Gilmour)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the returns received by the Department of Health for Scotland do not show the nature of the occupation of persons occupying houses which have been the subject of action by Local Authorities under the Housing Acts, but I would refer the hon. Member to Appendix I to the Report of the Scottish Board of Health for 1928, which contains particulars for that year of the number of houses inspected on behalf of Local Authorities and of the action taken by Local Authorities in discharge of certain duties laid upon them by these Acts. As regards the third part of the question, I have, following on the representation made by the Scottish Farm Servants' Union, caused a communication to be addressed to the Local Authorities of county areas on the subject. I am send-in a copy of that communication to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. SHINWELLCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether a communication has been addressed to the West Lothian County Council, because rural housing in that area is very bad indeed?
§ Sir J. GILMOUROh, yes, a communication was addressed to all local authorities throughout Scotland.