HC Deb 22 February 1938 vol 332 cc178-84
40. Mr. Westwood

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department has had any negotiations with the Scottish Timber Merchants' and Saw-millers' Association about the building of timber houses; and, if so, can he state the result of the negotiations?

The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Elliot)

The Department of Health had a meeting with the association last month, when the association represented that there were supplies of timber and of labour in Scotland to enable timber houses to be constructed there without delay. I earnestly hope, therefore, as I indicated to the hon. Member for East Fife (Mr. Henderson Stewart) on 17th February, that the timber trade and local authorities will be able to enter into early arrangements to increase the output of working-class houses in Scotland by this means.

Mr. Westwood

Is it possible for the right hon. Gentleman to meet a deputation from this association to discuss the making of arrangements for assisting them in providing houses?

Mr. Elliot

The Department have already met the association. I think the next thing is for the association to prepare plans and submit them to the local authorities.

Mr. Logan

Will the right hon. Gentleman not make an agreement for them?

56. Mr. T. Johnston

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can give a statement showing the annual average cost of building three-, four-, and five-roomed houses during the years 1934, 1935, 1936, and 1937, together with the average rate of interest charged for interest by the Public Works Loan Board for each of these years?

Mr. Elliot

As the answer involves a number of figures, I propose, with the right hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Johnston

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us the reasons why over the period in question the cost of house building in Scotland has gone up by over £100 per house while it has fallen in the same period in England?

Mr. Elliot

It is due to the overloaded state of the building industry in Scotland.

Following is the answer:

Statement showing for each of the years 1934–37 inclusive:

  1. (a) Annual average cost of three, four and five-roomed houses, based on tenders approved by the Department of Health for Scotland; and
  2. (b) Rates of interest charged by the Public Works Loan Board in respect of loans to local authorities for any purpose of the Housing Acts.

(a)
Size of House (all types). Average building cost in—
1934. 1935. 1936. 1937.
£ £ £ £
Three apartments 278 284 331 416
Four apartments 314 325 377 460
Five apartments 371 368 437 521
These figures exclude such items as professional fees, and the cost of land, roads and additional underbuilding, amounting on the average to an additional £70 per house.
(b)
Financial Year Average rate of Interest per £100
£ s. d.
1933–34 … … 3 12 7
1934–35 … … 3 7 4
1935–36 … … 3 5 1
1936–37 … … 3 5 2
The figure for the financial year 1937–38 is not yet available.
58. Mr. Johnston

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has further considered the contentions advanced to him by spokesmen for the house factors associations in the West of Scotland that the primary cause of the retardation of building and the high rents in that area is the Scottish rating system; and whether he is now prepared to give a considered reply thereto?

Mr. Elliot

As the hon. Member will appreciate, this is not a matter which can be dealt with suitably in the course of question and answer in the House. I have no doubt, however, that there will be an early opportunity of raising it in the course of debate when I shall be glad to make any contribution I can to the question.

Mr. Johnston

Will the right hon. Gentleman give us any indication when a suitable opportunity is likely to occur?

Mr. Elliot

It might arise during the Debate on the Rent Restrictions Bill.

63 and 64. Mr. Mathers

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) particulars of the areas in Scotland which have now the highest percentage of overcrowded dwellings; what is the percentage of overcrowding therein; and what special efforts are being applied to solve the problem in these areas;

(2) the local authorities in Scotland which have now the lowest percentage of overcrowding in these areas; and when it is estimated overcrowding will be abolished in these areas?

Mr. Elliot

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement showing the percentage of overcrowding in the various districts in Scotland as ascertained by the survey made in 1935–36 which is the latest information available on the subject. I am in constant touch with local authorities to secure the utmost expedition in the provision of new houses for putting an end to overcrowding. The "appointed day" bringing the overcrowding provisions into full operation has been fixed for the Dysart Ward of Kirkcaldy and the Burgh of Queensferry, and I hope that it will be possible to fix the appointed day in other localities at an early date.

Mr. Mathers

Does the right hon. Gentleman recognise that these figures show the impossibility of bringing rent decontrol fully into operation in Scotland for many years?

Following is the statement:

PERCENTAGE OF HOUSES OVERCROWDED IN THE VARIOUS LOCALITIES IN SCOTLAND.
a. Large Cities:—
Glasgow … … … 29.12
Dundee … … … 23.94
Aberdeen … … … 22.05
Edinburgh … … … 17.17
b. Large Burghs:—
Coatbridge … … … 44.79
Port Glasgow … … … 42.14
Clydebank … … … 40.91
Motherwell … … … 40.49
Hamilton … … … 38.58
Greenock … … … 33.70
Paisley … … … 31.71
Rutherglen … … … 30.10
Airdrie … … … 29.77
Dumbarton … … … 29.04
Ayr … … … 26.28
Falkirk … … … 23.83
Kilmarnock … … … 23.11
Kirkcaldy … … … 18.90
Arbroath … … … 16.05
Dunfermline … … … 15.00
Stirling … … … 14.41
Dumfries … … … 14.18
Perth … … … 12.66
Inverness … … … 11.27
c. Small Burghs:—
Cowdenbeath … … … 39.93
Lochgelly … … … 35.83
Kilsyth … … … 30.87
Renfrew … … … 30.58
Kirkintilloch … … … 29.66
Irvine … … … 29.43
Buckhaven … … … 29.35
Loanhead … … … 29.00
Denny … … … 28.41
Bathgate … … … 28.19
Galston … … … 27.45
Bo'ness … … … 27.35
Barrhead … … … 27.17
Fraserburgh … … … 26.99
Whitburn … … … 26.80
Tillicoultry … … … 26.28
Musselburgh … … … 25.90
Johnstone … … … 25.74
Armadale … … … 25.32
Kilwinning … … … 25.18
Newmilns … … … 25.11
Lanark … … … 24.59
Tranent … … … 24.51
Fort William … … … 23.98
Peterhead … … … 23.79
Forfar … … … 23.31
Inverkeithing … … … 22.68
Ardrossan … … … 22.51
Saltcoats … … … 22.00
Campbeltown … … … 21.88
Grangemouth … … … 21.24
Cockenzie … … … 21.17
Linlithgow … … … 20.36
Darvel … … … 20.16
Galashiels … … … 19.54
Milngavie … … … 19.37
Alva … … … 19.11
Maybole … … … 19.07
Cumnock … … … 18.88
Alloa … … … 18.00
Troon … … … 17.97
Bonnyrigg … … … 17.84
Lerwick … … … 17.80
c. Small Burghs—continued.
Leven … … … 17.28
Buckie … … … 17.24
Queensferry … … … 16.95
St. Monance … … … 16.85
Lochmaben … … … 16.72
Prestwick … … … 16.67
Findochty … … … 15.85
Leslie … … … 15.83
Penicuik … … … 15.66
Sanquhar … … … 15.37
Brechin … … … 15.28
Selkirk … … … 15.06
Helensburgh … … … 14.89
Stornoway … … … 14.81
Portsoy … … … 14.56
Jedburgh … … … 14.54
Dalkeith … … … 14.42
Biggar … … … 14.17
Inverurie … … … 14.08
Girvan … … … 14.02
Gourock … … … 13.80
Prestonpans … … … 13.77
Peebles … … … 13.67
Abernethy … … … 13.59
Wick … … … 13.10
Culross … … … 13.04
Kilrenny, etc. … … … 12.55
Oban … … … 12.32
Burntisland … … … 12.19
Blairgowrie … … … 12.09
Markinch … … … 12.07
Forres … … … 12.04
Dingwall … … … 12.00
Tayport … … … 11.97
Montrose … … … 11.94
Pittenweem … … … 11.74
Stewarton … … … 11.59
Newburgh … … … 11.18
Kirkwall … … … 11.09
Kirriemuir … … … 11.04
Inverbervie … … … 10.95
Kinross … … … 10.93
Monifieth … … … 10.92
Thurso … … … 10.92
Keith … … … 10.88
Crieff … … … 10.77
Rothesay … … … 10.62
Dunblane … … … 10.56
Lossiemouth … … … 10.41
Alyth … … … 10.27
Bridge of Allan … … … 10.23
Kinghorn … … … 10.23
Doune … … … 10.08
Ladybank … … … 10.08
Auchterarder … … … 10.03
Castle Douglas … … … 10.01
Annan … … … 9.81
Falkland … … … 9.77
Cupar … … … 9.64
Macduff … … … 9.53
Innerleithen … … … 9.48
Kirkcudbright … … … 9.31
Whithorn … … … 8.93
Huntly … … … 8.78
Burghead … … … 8.65
New Galloway … … … 8.65
Lockerbie … … … 8.26
Stonehaven … … … 7.97
Dalbeattie … … … 7.88
Cove … … … 7.72
Nairn … … … 7.68
St. Andrews … … … 7.68
Coupar Angus … … … 7.66
Dunbar … … … 7.61
c. Small Burghs—continued.
Eyemouth … … … 7.58
Auchtermuchty … … … 7.53
Dunoon … … … 7.37
Kelso … … … 7.37
Wigtown … … … 7.31
Grantown … … … 7.29
Lochgilphead … … … 6.89
Banchory … … … 6.86
Turriff … … … 6.82
Banff … … … 6.80
Stranraer … … … 6.78
Callander … … … 6.73
Carnoustie … … … 6.21
Rothes … … … 6.14
Haddington … … … 6.09
Laurencekirk … … … 6.07
Largs … … … 5.71
Elgin … … … 5.60
North Berwick … … … 5.50
Ellon … … … 5.43
Crail … … … 5.41
Gatehouse … … … 5.28
Dufftown … … … 5.15
Newport … … … 5.09
Hawick … … … 4.78
Rosehearty … … … 4.76
Dollar … … … 4.74
Tobermory … … … 4.72
Moffat … … … 4.57
Portknockie … … … 4.50
Cullen … … … 4.31
Millport … … … 4.20
East Linton … … … 3.88
Coldstream … … … 3.83
Melrose … … … 3.67
Langholm … … … 3.66
Newton Stewart … … … 3.59
Duns … … … 3.52
Inveraray … … … 3.40
Ballater … … … 3.33
Kintore … … … 3.13
Cromarty … … … 3.10
Stromness … … … 2.97
Old Meldrum … … … 2.78
Dornoch … … … 2.46
Aberchirder … … … 2.44
Invergordon … … … 2.38
Fortrose … … … 2.23
Aberfeldy … … … 1.75
Tain … … … 1.75
Kingussie … … … 1.47
Elie … … … 1.32
Lauder … … … 0.96
Aberlour … … … Nil.
d. Counties:—
Lanark … … … 36.79
West Lothian … … … 34.05
Fife … … … 26.21
Clackmannan … … … 26.00
Ayr … … … 25.81
Midlothian … … … 23.24
Stirling … … … 22.91
Dunbarton … … … 22.31
East Lothian … … … 14.64
Ross and Cromarty … … … 14.14
Dumfries … … … 14.09
Kincardine … … … 12.43
Selkirk … … … 11.96
Peebles … … … 11.89
Angus … … … 11.88
Renfrew … … … 10.67
Kinross … … … 8.88
Argyll … … … 8.67
Berwick … … … 8.67
d. Counties—continued.
Caithness … … … 8.56
Perth … … … 7.82
Wigtown … … … 7.25
Inverness … … … 7.21
Banff … … … 7.05
Aberdeen … … … 7.01
Moray … … … 6.27
Kirkcudbright … … … 5.80
Nairn … … … 5.76
Sutherland … … … 4.47
Bute … … … 4.21
Roxburgh … … … 2.58