§ 26. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists in the village of Blanefield, Stirlingshire, as to the attitude of the county medical and sanitary authority towards the complaints made regarding housing conditions of the village, and that some time ago the county council of Stirlingshire caused to be affixed at the local Post Offices in Strathblane and Blanefield lists for the signature of heads of families requiring sanitary housing accommodation; will he say how many signed; and what steps are being taken as a result of these petitions?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Skelton)The only information in regard to dissatisfaction with housing conditions in Blanefield which has been received by the Department of Health for Scotland is contained in the complaints referred to in my reply to the hon. Member on the 17th instant. I am informed that the Local Authority have inserted advertisements in the press and have placed notices in different parts of the County to assist them in ascertaining the number of persons in the County requiring houses. Fourteen applications have been received for houses at Blanefield and 22 at Strathblane. As regards the last part of the question, the Local Authority had erected over 1,500 houses up to November, 1930. As part of a three years' building programme since that date, they have already undertaken the erection of 708 additional houses, and have recently decided to build 300 more in different parts of the County. The number of houses to be allocated to meet the needs of Blanefield and Strathblane has not yet been definitely determined.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODAs the reply states that houses have not yet been allocated to those who require them in Blanefield, may I ask when will that demand be met?
§ Mr. SKELTONThat is a matter primarily for the local authority.
§ Mr. CAMPBELL KERMay I enquire as to when Blanefield was transferred from West Stirlingshire to Dumbartonshire?