HC Deb 15 June 1948 vol 452 cc236-7
25. Mrs. Mann

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can give any estimate of the number of houses required in Scotland for the category classed as homeless; and how far he expects to have reached such a target by the end of 1948 and 1949.

Mr. Woodburn

Of the 500,000 new houses estimated at the end of the war to be needed in Scotland about 200,000 were for persons without a home of their own. A total of 51,628 temporary and permanent houses have already been provided under postwar schemes. In present circumstances it is not possible to estimate what additional number will be completed by the end of 1948 and 1949, but the Government's aim is to complete the largest number that the available resources will permit.

Mrs. Mann

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his reply is very unsatisfactory? Does he know that his counterpart in England announced that the target of 750,000 houses, stated to be required for the homeless, would be reached by October? Not within years do we appear to be able to reach the target for Scotland.

Mr. Woodburn

There is a simple explanation. Scotland started off with ten times worse housing conditions than England. It is easier to solve the English problem than the Scottish problem.

Mr. Thornton-Kemsley

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his answer is not only very unsatisfactory, but also incomplete, since he has not said how many houses are required for the homeless?

Mr. Woodburn

About 200,000 of the houses were for persons without a home of their own. I am not quite clear what the term "homeless" means.

Mrs. Mann

Is Scotland to remain always and forever in a ten times worse position than England?

Mr. Woodburn

I am pleased to say that some leeway is being made up, but it is entirely a question of materials. If they are not there, we cannot build any quicker.

Lieut.-Commander Gurney Braithwaite

As there is some doubt about the interpretation of "homeless," should it not be referred to the courts?

Mr. Gallacher

In view of the fact that in years gone by the right hon. Gentleman advised the Scottish people that they could never get their affairs in order until they had more power, will he see that they get more power when he has more power to give them more power?