HC Deb 19 March 1946 vol 420 cc1678-80
37. Mr. Hoy

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of tenders submitted by the Corporation of Edin- burgh for the erection of permanent houses; the number approved; and the total number of houses involved.

Mr. Buchanan

The Corporation have submitted five sets of tenders since 1st January, 1945, covering 715 permanent houses, and all of them have been approved.

Mr. Hoy

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Edinburgh Town Council, at a meeting held on Thursday, 7th March, approved the erection by private enterprise of 218 houses for sale at £ 1,100 per house; if he is satisfied that this action will not retard the building by the corporation of houses for letting; and if this decision has his approval.

Mr. Willis

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of the Edinburgh Corporation to allow Messrs. James Miller and Partners, Limited, to develop, for the purpose of erecting houses for sale, approximately 53.acres of land previously scheduled for temporary housing sites at Northfield and Longstone; and whether, in view of the declared policy of the Government to give priority to the building of houses to let, he will make a statement on this matter.

Mr. Buchanan

The facts are broadly as stated in the Questions. In issuing licences for the erection of houses by private persons local authorities have been instructed to have regard to the available labour supply and the requirements of their own housing programme. Within the limits of these instructions, the primary responsibility for the decision rests with the Corporation and the Secretary of State's approval is not required.

The sites at Northfield and Longstone extend to 53 and 75 acres respectively, and I understand the Corporation have decided that approximately 25 acres on each site should be developed by the firm mentioned. As both sites were scheduled for temporary housing, I have asked the Corporation what action they propose to take to find alternative ground for this purpose. I propose to have an early meeting with the Corporation about their whole housing programme.

Mr. Hoy

Is the Under-Secretary aware that the building of these houses will un-doubtedly prevent the erection of houses to let, and that of the 715 houses which they are building one third of them are to be built by private enterprise for sale purposes?

Mr. Buchanan

As the hon. Gentleman will see, I am proposing to have an early meeting with the Edinburgh Corporation, and I will certainly bear in mind the question that has been raised by my hon. Friend.

Mr. Willis

Will the hon. Gentleman also remember that this firm were given the opportunity to build houses for sale on condition that they built houses to let for the Corporation, and that when they refused to build houses to let for the Corporation they were permitted to build houses for sale?

Mr. Buchanan

These are all very relevant facts which I shall keep in mind when my meeting with the Corporation takes place.