§ 26. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements are being made for the allocation of the houses now being built at the Logan Estate, Cumnock, Ayrshire, by the Special Housing Association; and if preference is to be given to the people now living in the district.
§ Mr. WoodburnHalf of the houses will be let to transferred miners nominated by the National Coal Board and the balance to miners on the local authority's waiting list.
§ Mr. HughesIs the Minister aware that grave dissatisfaction exists in this district, because people believe that preference is to be given to people from outside, and will he increase the percentage from 50 to a higher figure? Will he consider that?
§ Mr. WoodburnNo, Sir, because mining areas are having special priority for the specific purpose of attracting miners to go from one area to another, and fairness is obtained by this method of giving half the houses to those in the locality and half to those coming in.
§ Mr. HughesIs it fair to those who have been overcrowded in two rooms for a generation to have other people from outside coming in?
§ Mr. WoodburnSome of those who are being transferred are overcrowded in their own areas. People must eat, and in order to get more food, we must have more coal.