§ 16. Mr. SHINWELLasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of occupied houses in Broxburn which have been condemned as unfit for habitation; how many houses have been built by the county council in the district; and whether he is satisfied that the needs of the population are being met?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI am informed that three occupied houses in Broxburn have been condemned and that 138 houses have been built by the local authority in the Bathgate district, in which the village of Broxburn is situated. As regards the last part of the question, my information is that several habitable houses in the village are unoccupied.
§ Mr. SHINWELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the village of Broxburn is eight miles from Bathgate, and that not a single new house has been constructed in the vicinity of Broxburn for the last 15 years?
§ Sir J. GILMOURAll my information goes to show that, in the district of the local authority to which the hon. Member refers, these houses have been built.
§ Mr. SHINWELLDoes the right hon. Gentleman understand the geographical position of these districts? Is he not aware that Broxburn is remote from Bathgate; and is he not responsible to the people in Broxburn who are living in houses declared to be uninhabitable?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThat is the responsibility of the local authority. In so far as the village of Broxburn is concerned, I understand that there are uninhabited houses which are habitable.