HC Deb 18 March 1947 vol 435 cc175-6
22. Mr. Willis

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the permanent housing allocation for Edinburgh for 1947; and the number of private enterprise houses this allocation includes.

Mr. Buchanan

As a result of recent discussions it has been agreed that the Corporation should aim at completing 800 traditional and 490 non-traditional houses in 1947, and that 200 private enterprise houses may also be completed in the city.

Mr. Willis

Is my hon. Friend aware that when this agreement was reached it was understood that the private enterprise houses were not to be included in these figures, and that as the result of the position as now explained the number of houses to be built or let in Edinburgh will be very greatly reduced so that the position there will compare unfavourably with that in other large towns?

Mr. Buchanan

I do not think it compares unfavourably with other large towns. Indeed, some of those other towns say the opposite, but that is a matter of opinion. On the larger issue we are trying to treat the whole of Scotland equitably and fairly.

Mr. Boothby

Does the hon. Gentleman not think that this is a miserable total in view of the promises that have been made?

Mr. Buchanan

The hon. Gentleman may say it is this or that, but unless we make an effort of this kind the numbers will be further reduced. We have to see that labour and materials are concentrated on the houses that can be reasonably provided. I think that 24,000 houses plus about 13,000 temporary houses—a total, in all, of 37,000 in Scotland—is not unreasonable, and if we can achieve it I shall be happy, particularly in view of the fact that in the best year of any Government before the war nothing approaching this was achieved.

Mr. Thornton-Kemsley

Will the hon. Gentleman revert to Edinburgh, and say what proportion of the houses there which have already been started is represented by this miserable total he has given us this afternoon?

Mr. Buchanan

It is not a miserable total as compared with the figure for Edinburgh before the war when labour and materials were in abundance. [Interruption.] May I add that I do not propose to take instructions from the hon. Member but from Mr. Speaker? The hon. Member must learn that in this House he is not superior to the rest of us. We are speaking of Scotland as a whole and not of Edinburgh in particular, and we are taking the houses that have reached a certain level of building. This is the number that has been reached as the probable total for Edinburgh and is the figure that has been put down.