§ 29. Mr. WESTWOODasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the prescribed conditions for rebates of rent, referred to in Section 47, sub-section (5), of the Housing (Scotland) Act. 1935, will be available for Scottish housing authorities?
§ Sir G. COLLINSThe regulations to which the hon. Member refers are at present being drafted and will be made available at the earliest possible date. Before the regulations reach their final form, I propose to consult representatives of local authorities.
§ 34. Mr. NEIL MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the complaints made about the conditions of the housing provided at Ken Doon, Dalry, Kirkcudbrightshire, for the men who are employed on the electricity contract, he will have an investigation made?
§ Sir G. COLLINSIn April this year, officers of the Department of Health investigated complaints regarding a number of hutment camps in the Ken Doon district occupied by men employed on the Galloway Water Power Scheme. At a subsequent visit in July, it was found that certain recommendations made at the earlier visit had been carried into effect. Since then no complaints have been received, but if the hon. Member will let me know the exact nature of the complaints to which he refers, I shall have further investigation made.
§ 37. Mr. MATHERSasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the housing requirements in the county of Linlithgow, including the burghs therein; what steps are being taken to meet the shortage; and whether he is satisfied with the rate of progress being made?
§ Sir G. COLLINSAs the answer to the first two parts of the question involves a number of figures, I am sending the hon. Member a statement containing the information asked for. With regard to the last part, reasonably satisfactory progress is being made by six out of the seven local authorities in the county. The remaining authority (Bo'ness) have experienced difficulty in obtaining suit- 723 able building sites within the burgh, but are now taking steps to surmount the difficulty by an extension of their boundaries.
§ Mr. MATHERSWill the right hon. Gentleman and his Department do what they can to accelerate that progress?
§ Sir G. COLLINSYes, certainly.
§ 39. Mr. BUCHANANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total number of houses built in Glasgow during the past year and how this compares with two years ago; whether he is satisfied with the rate of progress; and, if not, what steps he proposes taking to have the rate of progress increased?
§ Sir G. COLLINSThe total number of houses erected by the Corporation of Glasgow during the 12 months ended 31st October, 1935, was 3,438; for the year ended 31st March, 1933, the number was 2,560. While I appreciate the efforts that have been made by the corporation to carry out their housing programme, I understand that they are taking steps to secure a larger output of houses.
§ 41. Mr. BUCHANANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that in the Gorbals Division of Glasgow a large number of families are occupying houses which are overcrowded; that frequently they have to live in either one-apartment or two-apartment houses, or in rooms which allow of little family life; that for years many of these families have applied to the local authority for houses without success; and what steps he proposes to take to have this problem in any way solved?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI am aware that the position is generally as stated in the first three parts of the question. As regards the last part, the corporation are at present making a survey of the overcrowding in their area the result of which is expected to be known by 31st December. Meantime the corporation have begun the erection of houses to relieve overcrowding, and I shall continue to maintain close contact with the corporation to secure the maximum progress.
§ Mr. BUCHANANWill the right hon. Gentleman give sue a guarantee that the conditions of Gorbals, which are terrible, will be tackled by 1938, the date fixed in another answer?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI fixed the date of 31st December, 1938, for dealing with slum clearance, and I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the officials of my Department will do all they possibly can to help the Corporation of Glasgow to get all the houses they require as early as possible.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the problem of Gorbals and of Glasgow is not one merely of slums or overcrowding, but the conditions all over which he has led us to believe will be tackled by 1938.
§ Sir G. COLLINSIt is the 1935 Housing Act which deals with the housing conditions of Gorbals, and it now rests with the Corporation of Glasgow to put that Act into operation.
§ 42. Mr. STEPHENasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider the introduction of legislation to provide for the reduction of rents of small houses and shops, in view of the great depreciation in the value of such houses and shops?
§ Sir G. COLLINSThe rents of many small houses—including houses used partly as shops—are already restricted by the Rent Restrictions Acts. So far as local authority houses are concerned, the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1935, enables local authorities, subject to prescribed conditions, to grant rebates from the normal rents to meet the financial circumstances of the tenants. In these circumstances there appears to be no need for further legislation.
§ Mr. STEPHENAs those rents were fixed in 1920 and the houses have depreciated very much since that time, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that there should be legislation now to impose a reduction of rent?
§ Sir G. COLLINSThe 1935 Act was specially drawn up to deal with particular cases, and it now rests with the corporation of Glasgow to deal with them.
§ Mr. MAXTONIt has nothing to do with it except to protect the property owners.
§ 42. Mr. STEPHENasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses have been built in the Camlachie Parliamentary Division, Glasgow, during the last four years which have been let at an 725 inclusive rent of 10s. a week or under and what steps he proposes to take to provide such housing accommodation for the people in this area who are in need of decent houses at rents within their capacity to pay?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI am informed that in the Camlachie Parliamentary Division during the last four years the corporation have completed 126 houses which are let at an inclusive rent of 10s. or less per week. As regards the last part of the question, it is the duty of the corporation to provide suitable housing accommodation for persons who are in need of it, and steps are being taken to expedite progress.
§ Mr. STEPHENCan the right hon. Gentleman tell me the kind of steps that are being taken?
§ Sir G. COLLINSVery numerous steps.
§ Lieut.-Colonel MOOREIs it not a fact that the majority of the Corporation of Glasgow are socialist in complexion, and should not these questions by hon. Gentlemen be made direct to the corporation?