§ 63. Mrs. Jean Mannasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that houses let by the Scottish Special Housing Association to key workers in Coatbridge are charged at rentals of 63s. per week, and are tied houses; and, as these workers left houses in England at 25s. per week, if he will take steps to reduce the rentals they are now paying.
§ The Secretary for Overseas Trade (Mr. Bottomley)I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the larger types of house for which the rent and rates together are about 63s. per week. These larger houses are provided for key executives and could not be made available at an inclusive rent of 25s. per week. The total outgoings of 63s. per week are comparable with those for similar houses which we have provided for managerial key workers in England and in order to keep Scottish rents down to these levels we have already agreed to make loans to the Scottish Association on a favourable basis. Under present conditions, the restricted number of houses provided under this special scheme must be reserved for tenants who are, and remain, genuine key workers.
§ Mrs. MannIs my hon. Friend aware that my information is that these are ordinary council houses built by the Scottish Special Housing Association and that they are let to tenants beside them at 25s. a week? Will he look into this further to see whether his information is really correct?
§ Mr. BottomleyI will do so.
§ Sir H. WilliamsIs the reason for these high rents that they are tied cottages?