§ 8. Sir William Darlingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of new houses provided in rural areas in Scotland, from public funds and by private persons respectively, for the accommodation of those in the agricultural industry in the years 1946–47 and in 1948 to the nearest date.
§ Mr. T. FraserAs the answer involves figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Colonel J. R. H. HutchisonIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this question of the provision of rural houses plays a very considerable part, according to the Health Department reports, in the fight against tuberculosis?
§ Mr. FraserI agree. It would also play a considerable part in the fight against tuberculosis in the urban areas—perhaps a more important part than in the rural areas.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The following table shows the number of houses completed in county areas by local authorities, the Scottish Special Housing Association and private enterprise during 1946, 1947 and the first five months of 1948.
| Period. | Number of houses completed. | ||
| Local Authorities and the S.S.H.A. | Private Enterprise | Total | |
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) |
| 1946 | 605 | 267 | 872 |
| 1947 | 2,201 | 514 | 2,715 |
| 1948 (to end of May). | 2,043 | 314 | 2,357 |
| Total | 4,849 | 1,095 | 5,944 |
§ 1. The figures given refer to the whole areas of the various county councils concerned. It is not possible to give separate figures for "rural areas" or for the agricultural industry.
§ 2. According to a return from local authorities, however, a total of 916 houses completed since the end of the war have been let to agricultural workers. In addition, an unknown number of houses has been let, not only in county areas but in small burghs, to workers connected with agriculture and ancillary trades.
§ 3. The figures given in column (3) comprise houses built by private enterprise either without assistance, or with assistance under Part II of the Housing (Agricultural Population) (Scotland) Act, 1938, for the replacement of unsatisfactory houses on farms.