§ 49. Mr. NEIL MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the reason why the corporation of Aberdeen has not built any houses under the 1930 Housing Act; and whether he is taking any action in the matter?
§ Mr. SKELTONMy attention was drawn some time ago to the fact that, though the corporation of Aberdeen have completed over 3,000 houses with State assistance Since 1919, none of these has been provided under the Act of 1930. The corporation have, however, erected 280 houses for the replacement of unfit houses with the assistance of the slum clearance grant available under the Act of 1923. The Department of Health have been in correspondence with the corporation on this subject, and I am informed that the corporation are preparing a scheme for the erection of some 500 houses for slum replacement on land already in their possession.
§ Mr. BURNETTIs it not the case that the corporation of Aberdeen has been very fully occupied with its 1924–25 programme, and that the suggestion that it has —been behindhand is entirely without foundation?
§ Mr. MACLEANIs it not the case that a number of complaints have been made, not only to the corporation, but also to the Scottish Office, as to the delay in erecting houses under this Act?
§ Mr. SKELT0NMy attention was drawn to the matter in March, and a correspondence with the corporation was begun then by the Department of Health. In April certain ratepayers went through the ordinary procedure of Section 37 of the Act of 1930. I have not taken any action with regard to that position, as the matter is already in hand.