HC Deb 23 April 1940 vol 360 cc23-4
58. Mr. T. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many subsidised working-class houses were built and completed in Scotland in 1939, and of the total number, how many were poured or block concrete, and how many of timber construction?

Mr. Colville

19,170 subsidised working-class housese were completed in Scotland in 1939. Of these, 1,218 were of concrete, and 220 of timber, construction.

59. Mr. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department has experienced any difficulty in obtaining brick, cement or timber in the building of subsidised working-class houses; and, further, whether he can state the estimated cost of house construction by these materials, respectively, at the present time?

Mr. Colville

Present and prospective works essential to the war effort must have a prior claim on the supplies of the materials referred to and this consideration imposes especially rigid restrictions upon the extent to which timber in particular can be released for housing purposes. In present circumstances no accurate estimate can be made of the relative costs of house construction by these materials.

60. Mr. R. Gibson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of houses completed in Scotland from 1st January,1940, to the last available date; how many houses are still under completion; and what were the comparable figures for 1939?

Mr. Colville

The information asked for is not yet available. I will communicate with the hon. and learned Member as soon as it has been received.

Mr. Gibson

From the information which the right hon. Gentleman has, is he satis- fied with the progress that is being made, and will he keep in mind the continued shortage of houses in Greenock?

Mr. Colville

I am awaiting the information, and will let the hon. and learned Member have it.

Mr. Mathers

Will the Secretary of State endeavour to make these statistics public as well as communicating them to the hon. and learned Member?

Mr. Colville

My intention was to allow the hon. and learned Member to have the information, as he has asked for it, and put a further Question down.