HC Deb 14 December 1937 vol 330 cc973-6
33. Mr. T. Johnston

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that there is no prospect of many of the new contracts for house building now being entered into by Scottish municipalities being commenced within the next 18 months' time; whether he can make any statement as to the causes of this serious state of affairs; whether similar delays in the building programme are taking place in England and Wales; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the provision of urgently required houses in Scotland shall be expedited and not retarded?

The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Elliot)

There will, undoubtedly, be considerable delay in the completion of many of the new contracts being entered into by Scottish local authorities. At the present rate of building this might in some cases be 18 months or more. The causes are mainly the shortage of building labour and, to some extent, shortage of materials. I understand that no comparable delay is likely to occur in England, but for exact information as to the position there I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health. With regard to the last part of the question, following discussions with representatives of the building industry, a joint consultative committee has been set up to carry out the agreement reached for augmenting the personnel of the industry, and steps have also been taken to encourage increased production of essential materials. In addition, a housing association has been formed for the purpose of supplementing the activities of local authorities in the Special Areas by the erection of houses in methods of construction alternative to brick.

Mr. Johnston

In view of the serious nature of that answer, has the right hon. Gentleman considered the advisability of getting some of the new munition works built of cement instead of bricks? Would not that ease the position as regards house building?

Mr. Elliot

We are in consultation with the industry seeing whether alternative methods can be employed anywhere to ease the strain on the more orthodox method.

Mr. Anstruther-Gray

Will my right hon. Friend urge the Special Areas Housing Association to proceed on a large scale with the erection of houses produced by alternative methods?

Mr. Gallacher

Has the Minister given any attention to the resolutions passed at the conference of local authorities in Scotland, and will he try to comply with the terms of it?

Mr. Elliot

The local authorities were not dealing with the shortage of labour. It was a question of more money for the houses under construction, and I have explained that I do not think that would accelerate the housing construction programme in Scotland.

Mr. Gallacher

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the conference dealt with other questions than that of money?

Mr. Elliot

But my answer shows that the Government have already taken steps to deal with those aspects of the matter.

Mr. Johnston

If it be the case that there is no delay in proceeding with contracts in England, and if there is 18 months' delay in proceeding with housing contracts in Scotland, could not arrangements be made to get some material from England, not leaving us in this parlous state?

Mr. Elliot

It is open to anybody to bring material from England. There is no barrier against that.

Mr. Cassells

Does the question of rising costs in any way contribute towards this delay of 18 months?

Mr. Elliot

I do not think it does. I believe the shortage of labour is very considerable and I do not think the rising costs enter into that.

Mr. Anstruther-Gray

In view of the fact that the shortage of labour does not affect alternative methods of building houses, will not the right hon. Gentleman urge upon the Special Areas Housing Association to proceed on a really large scale with the building of these alternative houses?

Mr. Elliot

The Housing Association has been formed for the purpose of proceeding by alternative methods, and it must, in the first instance, feel its way, but I hope very much that it will be able to press on actively in a very short time.

34. Mr. Stephen

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that some of the tenants of houses at 5, Comely Park Terrace and 35, Comely Park Street, Glasgow, were ordered by the sanitary officer to strip the paper off the walls of their houses; that bugs were found infesting the plaster in some of the houses; that in one house there was evidence of gnawed woodwork, probably caused by rats; that the senior assistant medical officer of the Glasgow public health department has reported that the tenants were mostly of a good type and that their houses were kept in a satisfactory manner; and what steps are now being taken to compel the landlord to put the plaster work in a satisfactory condition and to redecorate the houses where the walls were stripped, so as to make the houses suitable for habitation?

Mr. Elliot

I am informed that in order to reveal broken plaster and facilitate disinfestation the tenants, in their own interests, were advised, but not ordered, by the sanitary officer, to strip the paper off their walls. Slight bug infestation was found behind the wallpaper but not in the plaster, and in one house at 5, Comely Park Terrace, a hole was found under the sink which may or may not have been caused by rats. The answer to the fourth part of the question is in the affirmative, namely, that the tenants are mostly of a good type and that their houses are kept in a satisfactory manner. With regard to the last part, I am informed that the factors' tradesmen have already repaired most of the broken plaster and have sealed the holes in the house at 5, Comely Park Terrace. The corporation have no power to instruct a landlord in matters of decoration or redecoration. They have, however, provided the tenants in question with distemper, whitewash and size.

Miss Wilkinson

What is the official standard as to how many bugs constitute slight infestation?

Mr. Elliot

I think that is a question which might be more properly addressed to the local authority.