§ 25. Sir David Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered the evidence submitted to him by the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland which revealed that some of his constituents are living in condemned houses without water or sanitation and in shacks which are unfit for human habitation; and if he will take immediate steps to increase the number of houses allocated to local authorities in the two counties.
Mr. McNeilI have recently received letters from the hon. Member about two unsatisfactory dwellings in Sutherland. I have naturally taken the appropriate action. The local authorities in the Counties of Caithness and Sutherland (including the burgh authorities) have at present a total of 178 houses under construction, and three weeks ago I allocated a total of 118 additional houses to them. The completion of these houses will keep the local industry fully occupied for some time.
§ Sir D. RobertsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the current issue of the "John-O'-Groats Journal" states that the waiting lists are "monstrous "? Is he also aware that we have the stones, the lime, the bricks, and even the timber and idle labour, and will he set these resources and this labour to work to cure the situation about which I have given him evidence?
Mr. McNeilI should be delighted to have any evidence from the hon. Gentleman about skilled labour which could be more fully employed on this task there or elsewhere.