HC Deb 01 April 1930 vol 237 cc1043-6
1. Mr. DAY

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the latest available figures with reference to the operation of the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926: how many houses have been finished to the last convenient date; what progress is being made in the work on further dwellings; and what action has been taken by his Department to encourage local authorities in the fullest use of their powers under the Act for the purpose of reconditioning old houses in agricultural districts?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Johnston)

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on the 18th February to the right hon. Member for Ross and Cromarty (Mr. Macpherson) which contains the latest available information on this subject. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the circular referred to in that answer.

Mr. DAY

Can the Under-Secretary say whether he has had any further replies from the councils in regard to the correspondence?

Mr. JOHNSTON

No, Sir, we do not propose to issue any circular until after the 15th May.

2. Mr. TRAIN

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the local authorities in Scotland have adopted the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act; and the number of houses built in Scotland under this Act up to date?

Mr. JOHNSTON

The Small Dwellings Acquisition (Scotland) Acts are not adoptive. They are enabling Acts whose provisions may be put into operation by local authorities without adoption. The information asked for in the last part of the question is not available, but as at 28th February last local authorities in Scotland had granted loans under the Acts to the amount of £1,449,179.

Mr. TRAIN

Is the hon. Member doing anything to encourage local authorities to go on with the building of houses under the Act?

Mr. JOHNSTON

The Act does not only deal with new houses, but enables local authorities to purchase existing houses, and, as far as I am aware, all local authorities in Scotland are very well aware of their powers under the Act.

3. Mr. TRAIN

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of county council houses that are let in the Upper, Middle and Lower Wards of Lanarkshire, respectively; and the amount of arrears of rent in each ward at the latest date available?

Mr. JOHNSTON

I am informed that as at the 26th March, 1930, the number of county council houses that were let in the Upper, Middle and Lower Wards of Lanarkshire were 1,263, 7,625 and 1,180 respectively, and that as at the same date the respective amounts of arrears in those wards were £6,192, £6,973 and £268. These amounts include arrears of occupiers' rates which are collected along with rents.

Mr. TRAIN

Is the Under-Secretary satisfied that local authorities are doing all that is possible to collect these rents?

Mr. JOHNSTON

Yes, Sir, as far as we are aware; but if the hon. Member has any information to the contrary, we shall be glad to have it.

Miss LEE

Are any steps being contemplated for the reduction of these rents in order to bring them more within the means of the people who inhabit these houses?

Mr. JOHNSTON

Except for the Addison scheme houses, the fixation of rents is entirely a matter for local authorities. We have no power to deal with it.

6. Major COLVILLE

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the average cost of houses built by local authorities in Scotland during the last three years, giving, separately, the cost by contract and by direct labour?

Mr. JOHNSTON

The average cost is not available, but the average tender price of houses built under contract by local authorities in Scotland during the last three years was: in 1927 £375, in 1928 £344 and in 1929 £312. The average cost of houses built under direct labour by local authorities in 1927 was £306. No houses were built under direct labour by local authorities in 1928 and 1929.

Mr. JAMES STEWART

Will the Under-Secretary state where these reductions in the cost of houses took place as compared with the other matters of erecting houses?

Mr. JOHNSTON

There were two places in Scotland where direct labour was introduced. One was Lochgelly, and the other Glasgow. In the case of Lochgelly, the estimated cost of the house was £340, and it was actually completed at a cost of £287. In Glasgow, the estimated cost was £390, and the actual cost £364.

Major COLVILLE

Am I to understand that no houses at all were built by direct labour in Scotland after 1927?

Mr. JOHNSTON

That is so.

Major COLVILLE

For what reason?

Mr. JOHNSTON

The composition of some of the city councils was the major reason.