HC Deb 13 May 1941 vol 371 cc1058-60
16. Major Lloyd

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the resolution recently passed by the Glasgow Corporation Emergency Housing Committee to the effect that, in the case of any persons deprived of their houses through enemy action, preference was to be given to previous tenants of corporation houses for rehousing in corporation-scheme houses; whether he is aware that tenants bombed out of houses not previously included in a corporation scheme have been informed that they cannot be given any accommodation in corporation schemes until all previous tenants of corporation schemes have been rehoused, and that a petition by such tenants against this announcement has been rejected by the corporation and whether he will consider compelling the Glasgow Corporation to rescind this decision and put all bombed-out citizens on an equal footing?

Mr. Johnston

I have received representations against the resolution to which the hon. Member refers and have communicated with the Corporation of Glasgow in the matter. They inform me that only a small number of corporation houses are available. Of this number more than half have in fact been let to previous tenants of privately owned houses, although the number of corporation tenants requiring to be rehoused is nearly twice the number of corporation houses available. The resolution in question, however, has implications in relation to the corporation's future policy which seem to me to warrant further inquiries, and I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as they have been completed.

Major Lloyd

Has my right hon. Friend any information whether any other local authority in the whole Kingdom has adopted this very unfair attitude, and is he aware that great indignation prevails in Glasgow in regard to this matter?

Mr. Johnston

I have no information that any other local authority has passed a similar resolution.

Mr. McKinlay

Is it not a fact that the allocation of houses built under the Housing Act must be determined by the conditions laid down in the Act of Parliament, and also that Glasgow Corporation are not called upon to provide houses for bombed-out families, as such houses never were provided for?

Mr. Johnston

Yes, Sir, but may I point out to the hon. Gentleman that Section 47 of the Act of 1935 specifically says that preference in the selection of tenants is to be given to those who are living under unsatisfactory housing conditions?

Mr. McKinlay

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information that the allocations do not conform to the conditions laid down in the Act?