HC Deb 15 October 1946 vol 427 cc764-5
8. Mr. Malcolm MacMillan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the reason for the delay in making available to the applicants in the Isle of Lewis the temporary houses offered in May to the county council of Ross and Cromarty.

Mr. Buchanan

The delay is due to difficulties experienced by the county council in selecting a suitable site for the houses. The site recently selected has still to be serviced by the council before house erection can commence.

Mr. MacMillan

Does my hon. Friend mean that the Scottish Office is going to allow the Ross-shire local authority to delay accepting an offer of houses, or is some action to be taken to hustle them along?

Mr. Buchanan

I had a meeting with this council at the end of May last. They put forward a proposition for Army huts, and I thought I had improved upon it by giving them an offer of temporary houses instead. They accepted that but, according to my information, they have had great difficulty in getting a site. I have arranged that as soon as they can start servicing, this site will be given as high a priority as possible.

Mr. MacMillan

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is normally very little difficulty in the Isle of Lewis in obtaining a site, and that much of the land is under public ownership, vested in the Stornoway Trust?

Mr. Buchanan

That may be, but my hon. Friend has no right to expect me to have power to supersede the local authority. That must be done by the electors.

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