HC Deb 23 March 1937 vol 321 cc2732-3
30. Mr. Hardie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the amount of loss upon the steel houses erected in Scotland to the latest ascertainable date?

Mr. Elliot

I assume that the hon. Member's question relates to the 2,552 houses erected by the Second Scottish National Housing Company (Housing Trust) Limited. At 28th February, 1937, the approximate net loss since the inception of the company in 1926 amounted to £381,000.

Mr. Hardie

Has the right hon. Gentleman any returns about the other houses besides those promoted by this company? What about those at Crianlarich about which he spoke in the Debate as being the great test?

Mr. Elliot

I was asked about the houses erected in Scotland to the latest ascertainable date, and I thought the hon. Member would desire to know about the largest number of houses of which I could give him information.

Mr. Shinwell

Was not the production of these steel houses recommended by the right hon. Gentleman?

Mr. Elliot

It was indeed, and 2,552 in Scotland are now living in decent houses who would not otherwise be doing so.

Mr. Shinwell

Does the right hon. Gentleman make himself responsible for the loss?

Mr. Elliot

I take full responsibility for the loss.

Mr. Hardie

Was it because of the failure of the Lord Weir houses that Lord Weir was asked to advise about the building of aircraft?

Mr. Elliot

The hon. Member is quite in error in saying there was a failure of the Lord Weir houses.