§ 8 and 9. Mr. Thornton-Kemsleyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many of the 306 permanent houses under construction on 31st January, 1947, for the Aberdeenshire County Council and of the eight under construction on the same date for the Burgh of Ballater are to be completed by the end of 1947;
(2) how many of the 60 permanent houses under construction on 31st January, 1947, for the Kincardine County Council, of the 34 under construction for the Burgh of Banchory, of the 22 under construction for the Burgh of Laurencekirk, and of the 34 under construction for the Burgh of Stonehaven, on the same date, are to be completed by the end of this year.
§ Mr. WestwoodThe estimated numbers of traditional and non-traditional houses to be completed in 1947 in the areas referred to are as follows: Aberdeen County 230; Ballater 4, Kincardine County 28; Banchory 30; Laurencekirk 16; and Stonehaven 26.
§ Mr. Thornton-KemsleyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this announcement will give grave dissatisfaction in an area where over ten times these numbers of separate families will apparently be without houses at the end of the year?
§ Mr. WestwoodUntil we can finally solve the housing problem, I admit that I cannot give satisfaction to everyone, 1054 but I do not admit that the statement will give grave dissatisfaction, in view of the figures which I have announced to the House.
§ Mr. J. S. C. ReidIs it not an uneconomical method of using labour to cut down figures to these small penny packets?
§ Mr. WestwoodIt is wise to say what one can provide by way of labour and material and not cause disillusionment.
§ 10. Mr. Thornton-Kemsleyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the 30,815 permanent houses under construction in Scotland on 31st January, 1947, are to be completed by the end of this year.
§ Mr. WestwoodAs indicated in the recent White Paper, it is estimated that it may be possible to complete 24,000 traditional and non-traditional houses in 1947, including 2,000 private enterprise houses.
§ Mr. Thornton-KemsleyHas the Minister been able to find any local authority in the whole of Scotland which is satisfied with the allocation of houses for 1947?
§ Mr. WestwoodWhat I find after we have collected the voices of the local authorities is that they recognise that the 22,000 which will be built by the local authorities and completed in 1947 will be 3,000 more than were completed in the peak year under Tory administration.
§ Mr. J. S. C. ReidCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us how many of these are temporary and how many are permanent; and how does the figure for permanent houses compare with the figure for permanent houses built before the war?
§ Mr. WestwoodThe right hon. and learned Gentleman cannot have read the Question. I have to read the Questions very carefully. This Question deals wholly and solely with permanent houses.
§ Mr. GallacherDo the 24,000 houses represent one in 10 of the total amount being built in the country; and if Scotland's proportion is generally eleven-eightieths, can we take it that the Housing Association houses will be over and above the 24,000?
§ Mr. WestwoodThe temporary houses—shall I put it that way—
§ Mr. GallacherNot temporary houses. Will the Housing Association houses be over and above the 24,000 that Scotland is getting, or will they he limited in this matter to one in 10?
§ Mr. WestwoodThey are limited to 24,000, because we believe that that will be what we shall be able to complete in 1947.