§ 21. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Mooreasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied with the conditions of the hutted camps as now in use for living accommodation around Ayr; and what action he proposes to take to secure a reasonable standard of decency for their occupants.
Mr. McNeilThe huts in these camps occupied by squatters provide only emergency accommodation. Even with a considerable expenditure of labour and materials, they then could not be brought up to modern standards. Expenditure on providing basic facilities and on essential repairs has already been incurred, but I will gladly consider any further essential measures which the hon. and gallant Member may submit to me.
§ Sir T. MooreDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that these tenants have been forced to live in these cold, damp, dark, insanitary houses for upwards of 902 years, and that it is not possible to do anything to them because the outer wooden walls have perished? What steps is he going to take now to re-house these people?
Mr. McNeilThe hon. and gallant Gentleman knows that the business of providing houses is the business of the local authority—
§ Sir T. MooreSubject to licences.
Mr. McNeil—but so far as the hutments are concerned, as I have already indicated, if the hon. and gallant Gentleman has any practical proposal relating to essential measures, I should be glad to consider it.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ElliotDoes not this add enormously to the strength of the demand made last night by the Opposition for the greatly extended purchase of timber to enable the housing programme in this country to be speeded up?
Mr. McNeilI am quite certain that the right hon. and gallant Gentleman listened to the answer which I gave earlier, relating to the fact that local authorities in this county—not all of them, but eleven of them—have not yet submitted tenders for houses the allocation of which was approved last year.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ElliotSurely the right hon. Gentleman is not attempting to state to this House that if more building material were available in Scotland, we would not have a greater number of houses built in that country?
Mr. McNeilI am saying that with this, as with every other area, there is only a limited supply of labour available for these and the other competing purposes, and there can be no accusation that within this area, at any rate, there is not continuous provision being made for house building.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ElliotSurely it is very desirable—this is a matter of the utmost importance to everyone in this House as well as to everyone in Scotland—that an increased supply of labour should be concentrated on this essential service, which is being neglected at present by His Majesty's Government?
Mr. McNeilI am not sure whether the right hon. and gallant Gentleman is not asking that the Government should now 903 acquire powers for the direction of labour, because he knows that in every corner of Scotland the building force is fully employed.
§ 23. Sir T. Mooreasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the living conditions of the families occupying the disused Army huts at Parkill Tarbolton, Ayrshire, what steps he proposes to take to remove them forthwith to suitable accommodation.
Mr. McNeilThe huts at Parkhill are occupied as a clearing house for seven families removed from unsafe houses in Catrine. Re-housing is the responsibility of the county council, and I have asked them to find alternative accommodation as soon as possible.
§ Sir T. MooreDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that these unfortunate people have been waiting now for upwards of years; does he further realise the degrading effect upon a house-proud Scotswoman of having "to try to create a home in these circumstances; and will he not himself take immediate action to have the matter put right?
Mr. McNeilI have every sympathy, and I am sure the hon. and gallant Gentleman is greatly disturbed; but that sympathy and that emotion do not affect the facts: the responsibility must remain with the county councils.
§ Mr. Emrys HughesIs it not the fact that, the housing conditions in this area are so bad because the Tory town council refused to build houses, and had to be compelled by a public inquiry to build any houses at all?
§ Sir T. MooreIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the area I have just described has been hitherto within the representation of the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes)?
Mr. McNeilI am sure that is true, but I am equally certain that it was the responsibility of the county council and that the composition of the county council was as described by my hon. Friend.