10. Miss LEEasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what restrictions, if any, were imposed by his Department upon the rentals that may be charged for Weir steel houses?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Johnston)The Department of Health for Scotland have imposed no restrictions on rentals chargeable for Weir steel houses erected by local authorities. The fixing of these rentals is a matter for the local authorities concerned who must have regard to any relative requirement in the Act under which the houses were built. As regards the Weir steel houses built by the Second Scottish National Housing Company (Housing Trust) Limited, the rents fall to be fixed in accordance with the rents charged for houses with similar accommodation in the district.
Miss LEEIf it can be brought to the Government's notice that there are such houses for which rents higher than those that are being charged in the district, can we have no help, and cannot we have the rents reduced?
§ Mr. JOHNSTONIf higher charges are being made for Weir steel houses than are being made for houses of similar accommodation.
§ 14. Mr. TRAINasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has in view the co-ordination of the various Housing Acts from 1919; and if he will consider bringing all the rents into line so that comparable houses may have comparable rents?
§ Mr. JOHNSTONThe various Housing Acts passed prior to 1925 were consolidated in the Housing (Scotland) Act of that year. The question whether a further consolidation should take place con- 1038 sequent on the passing of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1930, will be duly considered. The problems and difficulties arising out of the charging of varying rentals for similar types of houses are continually being brought to my right hon. Friend's notice but he has no statutory power to require uniform rentals.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONIt must be obvious to the hon. Member that the 1930 Act has had a very limited opportunity of being operated yet by the local authorities in Scotland.
§ 15. Mr. TRAINasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the amount of arrears in rent on council houses in Glasgow, namely, £27,200, and in view of the extent to which these arrears fall upon the Exchequer, he intends to take any steps for the recovery of these arrears?
§ Mr. JOHNSTONAs I informed the hon. Member on the 10th instant, the amount referred to includes recoverable arrears, and I have no reason to believe that the corporation are not doing everything possible to secure the payment of outstanding rents. I may add that the arrears written off as irrecoverable for the year 1929–30 were only 1 per cent. of the total rental.
§ Mr. TRAINDoes the hon. Gentleman not think that it is the duty of the Secretary of State for Scotland, in the interests of the Exchequer, to do something to recover these arrears, apart from the local authorities?
Miss LEEArising out of the original reply, does the hon. Gentleman not think that these arrears are an indication that the general rental level is higher than the people can pay, and therefore would not his most effective action be to give assistance in the reduction of the general rents?
§ Mr. JOHNSTONThe figures show that, as a matter of fact, there has only been 1 per cent. of arrears written off as irrecoverable.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONI am dealing with the question on the Paper, and I am 1039 perfectly certain that that is, at least, as low a percentage as private owners are writing off.
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe are taking too long over this question.