HOUSING. (Hansard, 22 June 1937)

§ 36. Mr. T. Johnston
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from local authorities in Scotland to the effect that, owing to the rise in the price of materials for house-building, it is now necessary, if houses are to be produced at rents within the competence of the working classes, that the present subsidy of£6 15s. should be cancelled and the previous subsidy of k9 restored; and what steps the Government propose to take in the matter?

§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Elliot)
I have received representations from the Convention of Royal Burghs and from a number of individual local authorities that the present subsidy of i6 15s. available under the Act of 1935 should be increased and some of these representations suggested that the increased figure should be With regard to the latter part of the question, I regret that I am not in a position to add anything to the statement which I made on 23rd March in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Mathers).

§ Mr. Johnston
Does the right hon. Gentleman recollect that he was warned in advance of the probable consequences of the Government's expenditure on the rearmament programme in regard to house-building; and if he cannot increase the subsidy, can be take any steps to prevent a continuous rise in the price of building materials?

§ Mr. Elliot
Yes, Sir, we are taking all the steps we can.

§ Mr. Johnston
What steps?

§ Mr. Elliot
We are taking steps, for instance, to secure a larger supply of bricks—one of the main housing materials.

§ 38. Mr. Watson
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the action of Lochgelly Town Council in refusing to accept any of the tenders for 8o houses, urgently needed to relieve overcrowding in the burgh, on the ground that the building costs are so high that the tenants would be unable to pay the rents that would be required after allowing for the Government subsidy and the local authority's contribution; and whether he proposes to increase the subsidy of k6 15s. to enable the town council to proceed with this scheme?

§ Mr. Elliot
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the full statement regarding housing subsidies which I made on 23rd March in reply to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Mathers), and to which I am not in a position at present to add.

§ Mr. Watson
What progress does the right hon. Gentleman expect to make with his housing scheme if 4-apartment or 5-apartment houses are to be rented at n, a year?

§ Mr. Elliot
That is part of the general question which will, no doubt, arise in the Estimates Debate this week.

§ 54. Mr. Mathers
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now in a position to make a final or interim statement regarding the progress made towards expediting the provision of housing accommodation in Scotland, in the light of his consultations with the local authorities and the representatives of employes and employers in the building industry?

§ Mr. Elliot
A further meeting with representatives of employers and operatives was held on the 19th instant. With a view to ensuring better progress, particularly on the housing schemes of local authorities, the operatives at that meeting made proposals for the working of overtime and for the adjustment, where necessary, of the apprenticeship quotas through the established machinery of the industry. In the bricklaying trade, which is the one in which shortage of labour has been most apparent, it was estimated by the operatives that these proposals, taken together, would provide increased labour equivalent to at least 500 men. In the discussion of these proposals a substantial measure of agreement with the employers was obtained, but certain details have still to be discussed. I am assured both by the employers' and the operatives' representatives that there is every prospect of a definite agreement being reached.

§ Mr. Mathers
Realising the difficulty of giving full details in reply to a question, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will be prepared to amplify this statement when his Vote is under discussion on Thursday?

§ Mr. Elliot
That depends to some extent whether progress has been made in settling the outstanding details. If further progress has not been made it will be difficult to amplify them.

§ Mr. Henderson Stewart
Will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that this agreement will cover rural as well as urban districts, where up to now the main force of housing has been concentrated?

§ Mr. Elliot
I understand that it will be a general agreement covering all districts.