§ 30. Mr. ANSTRUTHER-GRAYasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the response made by the different local authorities in Scotland to the circular letter of the Department of Health on the desirability of ensuring that State-aided houses built for the working class should he occupied by tenants for whom these buildings were intended?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Skelton)In response to the circular referred to, 130 local authorities have intimated definite decisions to the Department of Health for Scotland. Of these, 24 local authorities have decided to issue to all or to selected tenants, including future tenants, a questionnaire preparatory to the institution of an income test; 50 have decided upon an income test for future tenants only; 35 have decided against an income test on the ground that with few exceptions tenants are of the working class; 16 have decided to take no action; and five have intimated that an income test is already in operation.
§ Mr. BURNETTCan the hon. Gentleman say how many of the larger councils have acted upon this circular?
§ Mr. SKELTONNot without notice.
Viscountess ASTORCannot the hon. Gentleman devise some way of seeing that State-aided houses are made use of by giving preference to families, as he must know that so many of the State-aided houses go to people with no families, while the real object should be to get people with large families into State-aided houses?
§ Mr. SKELTONAs far as any income test is concerned, it will depend on the number in the family.