§ 14. Mr. BARRasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made in Scotland in the improvement of labourers' cottages under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act; how many applications have been received and how many approved; and the number of houses on which the work has been completed or is in progress, with the amount of grants promised and of those already paid?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Sir John Gilmour)Steady progress is being made in Scotland with the improvement of dwelling accommodation under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act. As at 31st December last, the latest date for which information is available, applications for grants had been received in respect of 1,576 dwellings, of which 1,396 had been approved; work had been completed on 658 dwellings and was in progress on 655; and the amounts of grants promised and paid were £120,787 9s. 10d. and £48,002 5s. 6d. respectively.
§ 15. Mr. BARRasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what Scottish counties are taking most advantage of the Housing (Rural Workers) Act; what rural housing authorities have not framed schemes under the Act; and what action the Government are taking to press these authorities to submit schemes?
§ Sir J. GILMOUROn the basis of the number of dwellings approved for grant, the Scottish Counties taking most advantage of the Housing (Rural Workers) Act are Haddington, Aberdeen, Roxburgh, Ross, Perth and Berwick. I am forwarding to the hon. Member a list of the 963 county local authorities in Scotland that have not framed schemes under the Act. As regards the last part of the question, the Department of Health for Scotland are in regular communication with those county local authorities that have not yet decided whether or not to adopt a scheme, and have brought to their notice the advantages of the Act.