§ 2. Mr. Niall Macphersonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the 954 maximum limits of size and cost imposed on houses built for private owners and local authorities, respectively.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Thomas Fraser)The maximum area for both local authority and privately built houses varies according to type and number of rooms, within a range from 725 to 1,000 square feet, but in both cases a small number of larger houses is allowed in certain circumstances. No general maximum price can be fixed for local authority houses since a variety of factors operate to influence prices from site to site. The maximum limit for privately built houses is fixed by the local authority on the basis of the price of similar houses built in the district by the local authority themselves.
§ Mr. MacphersonHas not a circular gone out recommending local authorities to limit the cost of houses built for private owners to £1,500? If so, why has this limit been fixed?
§ Mr. FraserThe hon. Member must be mistaken. The price of privately built houses must be related to the costs of houses built by the local authorities.