HC Deb 22 July 1943 vol 391 cc1082-4
The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. T. Johnston)

With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, I should like in a word to say how we in Scotland stand in relation to the housing measures announced to-day by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.

The priority now accorded generally to housing needs in the allocation of immobile local labour (second only to war building) will, I hope, enable essential repairs and maintenance to be overtaken, and in some areas it should also facilitate the conversion of vacant premises such as shops and offices, into living accommodation. Scots local authorities will be given the same new requisitioning powers as the English authorities are to receive, so as to cover all classes of persons who are in need of housing accommodation. And the inquiries of the Committee the Minister of Health and I are appointing jointly to review rent restriction will, of course, extend to conditions in Scotland. But, further, the Government appreciate that the problem of excessive rents for furnished accommodation is one of great urgency in Scotland, and this has been emphasised by a recent decision of the High Court in Scotland. We have been considering what is the most suitable machinery that can be devised to deal with the problem. I am now incorporating definite proposals in a Bill which I hope to introduce into Parliament before we rise for the Summer Recess. The Bill wiI1 provide for the setting up where necessary of local tribunals to deal with complaints of overcharging for furnished accommodation.

Mr. Mathers

My right hon. Friend has not made any mention of the question of excessive charges for housing accommodation. Will this matter be dealt with in the proposed Measure or by a separate method?

Mr. Johnston

The Measure which I propose to introduce will deal exclusively with the question of overcharging for furnished lettings.

Mr. Kirkwood

Can my right hon. Friend tell us how many houses we shall get in Clydebank this year as a result of the Measure he is bringing in?

Mr. Johnston

That is another point altogether. The Measure I propose to introduce deals exclusively with the question of overcharging, extortionate charges, for furnished lettings.

Mr. McNeil

It was rather difficult to follow my right hon. Friend—I know it was not his fault—and I would like him to clear up two points. First, what powers of appeal is he allowing people whose property will be requisitioned, and, secondly, will the local tribunals which it is proposed to set up be competent to deal with the rents of sub-let unfurnished rooms?

Mr. Johnston

As regards my hon. Friend's second point, sub-lets of unfurnished dwellings are now covered by the terms of the Rent Restrictions Acts. As regards his first point, he had better await the terms of the Bill.