§ 25. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the Secretary of State for Scotland by what statutory authority the Department of Health are enforcing a means test for the tenants of municipal houses in Scotland; is he aware that all municipal houses have been let by local authorities in accordance with regulations which have excluded households earning more than standard incomes, varying according to district; and, as no means test has been proposed for municipal tenants in England and in view of the protests made against it in Scotland, will he now order its withdrawal?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Skelton)With regard to the first part of the question, I think the hon. Gentleman is under a misapprehension. The Department of Health itself is not enforcing a means test but as I stated in reply to a previous question has asked local authorities to furnish lists showing the occupations of the tenants of subsidised houses in easels where the local authority has intimated that it proposes to take no steps to ascertain the means of these tenants. In reply to the second part of the question, it is not the case that all municipal houses have been let on the terms mentioned by the hon. Member. With regard to the third part it is not proposed to reverse the policy stated in my previous reply. As regards England, perhaps the hon. Gentleman will address a question to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.
§ Mr. McGOVERNCan the hon. Gentleman inform us whether there were four Glasgow Labour Members on the committee which made the recommendation 1874 of the means test, and that they all agreed to the application of the means test?