HC Deb 06 July 1949 vol 466 cc2303-4

Considered in Committee under Standing Order No. 84.—[King's Recommendation signified.]

[MAJOR MILNER in the Chair.]

Motion made, and Question proposed, That, for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to amend the Housing (Scotland) Acts, 1925 to 1946, and to promote the improvement of housing accommodation in Scotland by authorising the making of contributions out of the Exchequer and of grants by local authorities, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of any expenses incurred by the Secretary of State in making to a corporation established by an order under section two of the New Towns Act, 1946, a grant in respect of—

  1. (a) the construction of a house or flat by an experimental method, the use for the purposes of experiment of any materials in the construction of a house or flat or the installation in a house or flat, in the course of the construction thereof, of equipment or fittings for those purposes; or
  2. (b) the incorporation or installation in a house or flat, otherwise than in the course of the construction thereof, of materials, equipment or fittings for those purposes."—[Mr. Woodburn.]

Colonel Gomme-Duncan (Perth and Kinross, Perth)

Could we have a little explanation on this matter either from the Secretary of State or the Lord Advocate?

The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Woodburn)

In the Bill as it now stands Clause 25 provides that a house may be erected with special experimental materials and the house may be completed with other experimental materials. That does not at the moment apply to development corporations nor to local authorities. An Amendment to be moved introduces in addition further development corporations, and it will also include development corporations acting in lieu of the new towns local authority, which, in due course, are going to get the same powers. This is an omission from the original Bill or an addition to the original Bill, whichever way one likes to look at it.

Resolution to be reported Tomorrow.

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