§ 36. Mr. ANSTRUTHER-GRAYasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can now state what is being done to house the families rendered homeless by the recent fire at Longriggend, Lanarkshire?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Skelton)I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to him on the 28th November. I am informed that a suggestion that huts should be erected as temporary accommodation for the displaced families is under consideration by the local authority.
§ Mr. ANSTRUTHER-GRAYIs the hon. Gentleman aware that these families are unanimous in their desire that huts should be erected in their own village rather than that they should be sent to old condemned houses in a neighbouring village, where their chances of work are no better? Will he bear that fact in mind?
§ Mr. SKELTONThat may very well be, but my hon. Friend knows that I have no power to interfere with the discretion of the local authority.