§ 25. Mr. Thomas Oswaldasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the failure of Edinburgh Corporation to build up to their present housing allocations; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that under the new ratio to be permitted this local authority will do more to provide homes for those waiting for houses to be let.
§ Mr. J. StuartI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to him on 21st November. Even if Edinburgh Corporation issue the maximum permissible number of private building licences next year, they are still likely to build more houses for letting than they have built this year.
§ Mr. OswaldWould the right hon. Gentleman recognise that the Edinburgh Corporation have gloriously failed to take up their allocation, and that, at the moment, there are over 18,000 families on the waiting lists in Edinburgh?
§ Mr. StuartI hope we shall see better results.
§ Mr. John WheatleyIn view of the Government's undertaking that, under the new housing policy, there will be as many houses available to let as heretofore, will 2216 the right hon. Gentleman take steps to ensure that local authorities, such as Edinburgh, which have not built up to their full allocations in the past, will complete their full allocations of houses to let before they grant any licences for houses for sale?
§ Mr. StuartI think this is a matter for the local authority, but I am glad to say that they have now got sites available for 2,000 houses, after provision has been made for the current allocation.