§ 12. Sir D. Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the recent letting of a county council house in Halkirk to a single man while a number of families including those of disabled ex-Service men are in houses which are stated by the county sanitary inspector to be unfit for human habitation; that improper influence for political motives is alleged; and if he will take immediate steps to hold a public inquiry and withhold further housing grants pending the result.
Mr. McNeilLetting of local authority houses is, of course, vested in local authorities and I do not propose to intervene in this case.
§ Sir D. RobertsonWhy does the Secretary of State for Scotland attempt to avoid his responsibility in a case which has become a public scandal in Caithness? Is it not a fact that these houses are built with money almost entirely provided by the British taxpayer—by Parliament—for which the Secretary of State is responsible to Parliament, and is it not his duty to act in the interest of good government?
Mr. McNeilIt is clearly not my duty to undertake duties which are the statutory obligations of the local authority. I must assure the hon. Gentleman that I am not going to involve myself in a most injudicious quarrel in which he is up to his neck.