§ 59. Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the basis 957 on which the 50s. unit grant has been fixed for re-housing families under the new slum clearance scheme; and whether he can give the average number of persons per family re-housed under recent slum clearance schemes in Scotland?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Johnston)In arriving at the unit grant of 50s. per person, regard was had to the average costs of houses, to the rents likely to be received from the class of tenant for whom the houses were to be provided, and to the amount of the annual expenses likely to be incurred by local authorities on the maintenance, etc., of the houses. It is estimated that the amount of grant will generally provide a material increase on the present grant of 50 per cent. of the annual loss on re-housing schemes. As regards the second part of the question, I am unable to give the particulars asked for in respect of the persons re-housed; but the average number of persons per family displaced from houses to be closed, under all schemes submitted up to the present date, is estimated at 4.2.
§ Mr. MILLARCan the hon. Member give us the figures for particular slum clearance schemes in particular towns, and if so, will he not find that the averages are distinctly below 4.2?
§ Mr. JOHNSTONThe average, as I have already said, of all the schemes submitted up to the present is 4.2.
§ Mr. MILLARI am asking if the hon. Member will give us the figures for particular areas and particular towns.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONIf I picked out particular areas or particular towns, I could give some under 4.2, seeing that the average is 4.2.
§ Mr. ERNEST BROWNIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the average in Edinburgh is 3.6?
§ Mr. JOHNSTONNo, not without notice.