§ 34. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the Department of Health for Scotland have refused permisnion to the Clydebank Town Council to proceed with their scheme for the building of 472 houses on the North Kilbowie site; and is he aware that the town council has expended £15,000 on the purchase and preparation of the site?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Skelton)In view of the number of houses already built and the existing economic condition of the burgh, my right hon Friend's predeces- 1775 sor was not prepared to sanction a further building scheme of 470 houses. Sanction was, however, given for the immediate replacement of the 72 uninhabitable houses in the burgh, and the Department are prepared to consider sympathetically any proposals which the town council may submit for dealing with overcrowding. With regard to the second part of the question, the hon. Gentleman has, I am informed, considerably overstated the expenditure on the site, which has been, to date, £9,173. I understand that no expenses have yet been incurred in its preparation for building purposes.