HC Deb 23 February 1943 vol 387 cc16-7
31. Mr. Malcolm MacMillan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the request of the Provost of Stornoway to the Scottish Department of Health that the erection of a number of timber houses be undertaken now as at least a temporary aid to solving local overcrowding and with a view to testing their suitability to Hebridean conditions for possible further construction; and whether he will make a statement?

Mr. Johnston

The suggestion made to me was that one or two pre-fabricated houses should be built experimentally in Stornoway to test whether they were suitable for local conditions. The work of the Burt Committee includes the technical examination of pre-fabrication and timber house construction in relation to the varying climatic conditions in different parts of Great Britain. The report of this Committee will therefore indicate what practical experiments can be encouraged with the greatest advantage, and when it is available I will consider the Stornoway suggestion further.

33. Mr. Sloan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any observations to make regarding the prefabricated houses completed at Fenwick, Ayrshire; and whether there is any immediate prospect of a supply of these houses to meet the urgent needs of South Ayrshire?

Mr. Johnston

I am greatly interested in the new methods and materials employed in building the houses to which the hon. Member refers. Full particulars of the houses have been furnished to the Burt Committee, which is investigating new methods of house construction, and I hope that it will be possible for the Committee to furnish a report on the houses at an early date. With regard to the county's housing needs, Ayrshire has been allocated 20 of the houses to be provided in rural areas in Scotland under the limited programme of new building I recently announced. In addition, arrangements are being made for getting more labour and materials to expedite the completion of the 168 houses which the county council have at present under construction.

Mr. Mathers

Are these houses limited strictly to agricultural workers?

Mr. Johnston

I would like to have notice of that Question.