§ 41. Mr. Westwoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is yet in a position to state when the Department of Health will be able to issue the model set of building by-laws as provided for in Section 70 of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1935, for the guidance of the Scottish local authorities?
The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Wedderburn)Drafts of the model sets of building by-laws for burghs and counties respectively have been considered by the appropriate Consultative Council, and certain amendments suggested by the Consultative Council are at present being considered by the technical staff of the Department of Health. I hope that both sets will be issued to local authorities within three months.
§ Mr. WestwoodIs the hon. Gentleman aware that at least one authority was promised this model set of by-laws for January?
Mr. WedderburnI do not think that that is so. The drafts were issued a long time ago to a number of bodies whose comments were desired, including the Sanitary Inspectors' Association, and the comments from all those bodies were not 1821 received until the end of December. The drafts are now being reconsidered in the light of those comments.
§ Mr. WestwoodIs the hon. Gentleman aware that one local authority—that of Kirkcaldy—was preparing its own bylaws, but was advised to withhold them for a time, as the new model by-laws would be ready by the month of January?
Mr. WedderburnI am afraid they have been misinformed, because they will not be ready for some time.
§ 52. Mr. Guyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Edinburgh Corporation has submitted any revised proposals to the Department of Health for the building of new houses?
Mr. WedderburnThe Corporation have submitted provisional proposals for the erection during 1937–38 of 1,250 houses, including 346 houses already approved.
§ Mr. GuyDoes not my hon. Friend consider that in view of the slow progress made by the Corporation last year with new housing construction it will be necessary for them to try some alternative type of construction so that they might complete their programme?
§ Mr. BoothbyIs my hon. Friend satisfied that the number of houses projected is sufficient?
Mr. WedderburnIt represents a considerable advance on last year's record and on most recent years, but it is not certain that it will be carried out. It depends on the supply of building labour, which the Corporation has said is very doubtful.
§ Mr. GuyDoes not that make all the more important the question of alternative types of construction?
§ 49. Major Neven-Spence (for Sir Douglas Thomson)asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give such directions under Clause 28 of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1930, as will preserve the street elevations of the seventeenth and eighteenth century houses still remaining in the Royal Mile in Edinburgh?
Mr. WedderburnMy right hon. Friend recently discussed with representatives of Edinburgh Corporation the problem of houses in the Royal Mile affected by their housing operations and he is considering 1822 certain suggestions for the preservation of these houses.
§ 50. Major Neven-Spence (for Sir D. Thomson)asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in how many cases in Scotland directions, under Section 28 of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1930, have been given by his Department; and whether he can give details?
Mr. WedderburnNo directions under Section 28 have been given by the Department of Health up to the present. The Department are, however, in constant communication with local authorities in order to secure improvement in the artistic quality of new housing schemes and to ensure that local amenities and features of architectural or historic interest are preserved.