HC Deb 12 February 1946 vol 419 cc152-8
3. Mr. McKinlay

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the original cost of the transitional houses erected at Levendale and Frielands Place, Dumbartonshire, exclusive of land, roads and services; and if he will state the cost of making the houses habitable after the tenants assumed occupancy.

Mr. Westwood

The original cost of each of these houses, exclusive of land, roads and services, was£598; the cost of making each house habitable after the tenants assumed occupancy was£307.

Mr. McKinlay

Is my right hon. Friend aware that as early as October, 1944, his predecessor gave me, in answer to a Question in this House, the original cost of£719? Can he account for the disparity?

Mr. Westwood

I am not aware of the previous answer that was given, but I will certainly look into the point raised by the hon. Member.

4. Mr. McKinlay

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the transitional houses erected at Levendale and Frielands Place, Dumbartonshire, are now in all respects fit for human habitation; and if there has been any settlement of the compensation claim made by the occupiers.

Mr. Westwood

The work for the improvement of these houses has been completed, and the condition of the houses is now regarded as satisfactory. The tenants' claims for compensation for damage to furnishings have been investi- gated and the amount of settlement agreed with 94 per cent. of the tenants. Payment of the claims will be made at a very early date.

Mr. McKinlay

May 1 ask my right hon. Friend, in view of the fact that the war is over and the blackout has been lifted, who is responsible for this appalling mess?

Mr. Westwood

I will certainly look into the suggestion which has been made.

5. Mr. McKinlay

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland under what powers the Scottish Special Housing Association proposes to convert temporary buildings, erected on sites requisitioned under Defence Regulations, into permanent houses, without submitting plans to the local Dean of Guild Court or local planning authority.

Mr. Westwood

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the conversion into houses of the hostel at Kirkintilloch. The works of conversion are being carried out on my behalf by the Scottish Special Housing Association under Regulation 51 of the Defence (General) Regulations. Copies of the plans were sent to the Town Council of Kirkintilloch and the County Council of Dumbarton for their information on 31st December, 1945.

Mr. McKinlay

Would my right hon. Friend answer the Question on the Order Paper? Is it intended that sites which were requisitioned under Defence Regulations should have permanent buildings erected upon them which do not comply with local building regulations and plans of which are not submitted to the local planning authorities?

Mr. Westwood

The exact position under Defence Regulation 51 is that when land is in the possession of a competent authority by virtue of the Regulation, it may be used by, or under the authority Of, the competent authority for such purpose and in such manner as the authority thinks expedient. I am advised that this gives ample cover for the conversion of the Kirkintilloch hostel which stands on requisitioned land.

Mr. McKinlay

May I request an answer to my question? Is it the intention of the Department to erect on lands which were requisitioned for war pur- poses, permanent buildings which do not comply with the local building regulations, and is the Minister aware that there is a very grave doubt as to whether the land was requisitioned and that as a matter of fact his Department may be trespassing?

Mr. Westwood

I shall certainly look into the last point made by my hon. Friend.

7. Major Spence

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Report of the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee on Owner Occupation will be available.

Mr. Westwood

This Report is now in proof and I hope to publish it by the end of this month.

Major Spence

Would the Minister say whether he proposes to take action on the recommendation of the Report when it is published?

Mr. Westwood

I can only say that the Report is to be published and that thereafter I will give consideration to the recommendations made.

9. Major Spence

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will investigate the loss of over 2,800 man-hours due to the lack of planning at the Rosehill housing site, Aberdeen, in December and January; and if he will state the causes.

Mr. Westwood

The Rosehill housing site was being prepared for American houses and after certain preparatory work had been carried out the local authority decided to accept only a portion of the number of such houses originally allocated to them. I have no information as to the number of man hours spent on the job but I am advised that approximately 50 per cent. of the preparatory foundation work completed for these houses can be utilised for the alternative type which we are to supply.

Major Spence

Is the Minister aware that when I visited this site yesterday 1 saw bricklayers knocking down the foundations of 50 houses which they had just been building, that only a very small part of the original foundations can be used, and that the original Question concerns loss of time through lack of instruction from his office?

Mr. Westwood

I am not aware of what the hon. Member saw when he visited the site yesterday, but I can assure him that the Aberdeen Town Council were not prepared to take the original number of houses that were allocated to them. I do not want to go into that—it would be too long a subject for question and answer

11. Major Ramsay

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will take steps to ensure prompt delivery of the Swedish timber semi-permanent£1,600 houses ordered by local authorities in Scotland, in view of the fact that delay in delivery will cause the collapse of brick gables already erected for use in connection with these houses; and who is responsible for defraying expense incurred in making good any deterioration of work already done owing to such non-delivery.

Mr. Westwood

Deliveries, which are now in progress, will be continued at an increasing pace in order to avoid the risk of damage to the foundations or gable walls. If the hon. and gallant Member has any particular case in mind and furnishes me with particulars, including the terms of the relevant contract, I shall have the matter considered.

Major Ramsay

The Question on the Order Paper asks whether or not the right 'hon. Gentleman will ensure prompt delivery of these temporary houses in view of the fact that if delivery is not prompt there is a large wastage in labour, money, and material because the gables will be blown down in the event of a high wind or inclement weather. Prompt delivery is the assurance I seek.

Mr. Westwood

I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that there will be no unnecessary delays by my Department in dealing with any aspect of housing.

Mr. Henderson Stewart

Can the Minister give the House any firm figures of the estimated number of such houses like, months, or the next year?

Mr. Westwood

Not without notice.

12. Major Ramsay

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that out of the 836 tradesmen employed in the building industry in Angus who were called up 'during the war only 101 have been released under Class A or B by 7th January, and, as a result, the building of houses is being seriously impeded; and whether he will take action to ameliorate the position

Mr. Westwood

Everything possible is being done, within the framework of the, Demobilisation scheme, to ensure the early release of building tradesmen from the Forces, but I am afraid that it would not be possible to release these men on a geographical basis. I am anxious that contractors should notify their labour requirements s to the Ministry of Labour well in advance of need, but if the hon. and gallant Member has any particular case of difficulty in mind perhaps he will give me details so that I may make inquiries.

Major Ramsay

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the vital necessity of rectifying the position with regard to building labour as far as possible, in view of the detrimental effect lack of rural houses will have on our national food production?

Mr. Westwood

It is not my duty to provide the labour; that is the duty of the Minister of Labour. I assure the hon. and gallant Member that whatever can be done inside the framework of the demobilisation scheme" is being done for the purpose of providing the necessary labour for the houses.

Mr. Stephen

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that Scotland is being treated as fairly as England?

Mr. Westwood

I can assure my hon. Friend that I and my Joint Undersecretary who is now directly responsible for the housing side of administration in Scotland, are doing everything possible to see that we get a fair and square deal. I have no reason to think that my English colleagues in the Cabinet wish to be anything other than fair.

13 Mr. Willis

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of temporary houses allocated to Edinburgh; the number for which sites were available at 31st December, 1945; and the number for which sites are available at present.

Mr. Westwood

Edinburgh have been allocated 4,000 temporary houses. At 31st December, 1945, sites for 515 houses were serviced as against 605 on the 7th February, 1946.

Mr. Willis

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that sufficient sites are available to avoid any delay in the temporary housing problem, arising out of the shortage of prepared sites?

Mr. Westwood

I shall not be satisfied until all the sites required for temporary houses which have been allocated are prepared in Scotland, and they ought to be prepared well in advance of the supply of the temporary houses.

Mr. Henderson Stewart

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the real trouble is that hundreds of sites are prepared and serviced now, and that we cannot get houses from the Ministry of Works?

Mr. Westwood

I have nothing to add to what I think is a satisfactory answer to the Question put on the Order Paper.

17. Mr. Malcolm MacMillan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to ensure that no time lag between immediate house building in the Western Isles and Highland areas and the compulsory installation under the new legislation of water supply in all new houses is allowed to develop to the detriment or delay of either undertaking.

Mr. Westwood

As soon as the Bill becomes law, steps will be taken by the Department of Health to bring its provisions to the notice of local authorities, including the requirement that all houses built after it comes into operation must have an inside water supply. Works necessary for the installation of such supplies will therefore be part of the actual building work and, as such, will receive the highest possible priority.

Mr. MacMillan

Is my right hon. Friend-satisfied that it will be technically and otherwise possible to ensure that no house building at all will be held up while waiting for water supplies to be installed?

Mr. Westwood

If at all possible, it is my purpose to make those two things work side by side.

19 Mr. M. MacMillan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he is aware that sites, labour, sand and shingle, transport and stone are all available in the Outer Hebrides for the State-assisted building of houses by crofters and squatters; whether he is satisfied that they have access through the Department of Agriculture Store and other suppliers to timber, wallboard, doors, windows, roofing and all other necessary prefabricated material and to all water supply and sanitary fittings; and what urgent steps are being taken to enable men in these parts to build their own homes.

Mr. Westwood

Assistance under schemes administered by the Department of Agriculture is confined to landholders, cottars and the tenants of fishermen's holdings constituted by the Department of Agriculture. I am aware that the resources mentioned in the first part of the Question are available to these people. The Department's organisation for the sale of other materials and fitments remains in operation but the supplies available are liable to be affected by shortages which exist throughout the country. As regards other measures I am arranging that the loan scheme which was suspended during the war years should again be put into operation.