HC Deb 18 October 1949 vol 468 cc471-2
29. Mr. Rankin

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he is curtailing the powers of local authorities to requisition empty houses.

Mr. Woodburn

Local authorities now have powers under the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1949, to acquire and improve premises with Exchequer assistance, and I am satisfied that, they should normally rely on these powers rather than on requisitioning powers, which in any event are due to expire in the near future.

Mr. Rankin

Is my right hon. Friend aware that while local authorities have power to requisition premises, the power to requisition empty single houses—which is the point in question—is now being withdrawn from them, a fact which will create severe hardship in industrial districts in Glasgow?

Mr. Woodburn

The point is that under the Act passed by this House local authorities now have power to acquire these houses permanently. The requisitioning of them would only be a temporary measure, which would be much less satisfactory to the incoming tenant.

Mr. Rankin

That being so, will my right hon. Friend make it perfectly clear to the local authorities—for they are not clear about it now—that they have the power to requisition these houses? The Corporation of Glasgow last week refused to requisition a particular house at my request.

Mr. Woodburn

No doubt my hon. Friend's Question will call the attention of local authorities to their powers.

Mrs. Jean Mann

Is my right hon. Friend aware that most of the houses are not worth requisitioning by the local authorities, and that night after night they are being advertised in the Scottish newspapers? The local authorities well know that these houses are condemned in their records, but the public do not know.