HC Deb 13 February 1951 vol 484 cc172-4
4. Mr. Manuel

asked the Minister of Works the total value of private building works authorised by his Department in Scotland during 1950.

Mr. Stokes

The total value of private building work licensed by my Department in Scotland during 1950 was £18,718,000. This figure includes work to industrial, commercial and agricultural buildings.

Mr. Manuel

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a large body of opinion in Scotland which thinks that the work authorised has been excessive and has had an adverse effect on housing output? Could he sub-divide the figures into cinemas, offices, and buildings of that kind?

Mr. Stokes

I do not think there are any cinemas at all, but I will look it up if my hon. Friend wants to know. Of the £18 million, £12 million is for sponsored work asked for by other Departments, and about £5 million is for maintenance.

Mr. McInnes

Since the figure which my right hon. Friend gives for 1950 reveals no diminution compared with that for 1949, will he undertake, in view of the shortage of building materials in Scotland, to impose a restriction on this semi-luxury building?

Mr. Stokes

I do not think that any of it could be called semi-luxury. We have very close control on all this, and I can assure my hon. Friend that I keep a constant eye on it.

Sir H. Williams

How many despatches have been received in this connection?

5. Mr. Manuel

asked the Minister of Works what safeguards are taken by his Department in Scotland to ensure that the amount for which a building licence is granted by his Department is not exceeded.

Mr. Stokes

Any complaints of irregularity are investigated, and there are limited arrangements for inspecting work in progress.

Mr. Manuel

In connection with the inspection arrangements, is my right hon. Friend aware that many of us representing constituencies in Scotland are receiving complaints about work not being inspected, and about people doing just what they like after they have got licences? Could I have some information as to what method of review there is, once work is authorised?

Mr. Stokes

I cannot give that, but I can assure my hon. Friend that a licensing officer satisfies himself, before a licence is granted, that the work can be carried out within the licence figure. I am not prepared to engage an army of snoopers to go around.

Mr. William Ross

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in Glasgow there is a considerable increase of spending on luxury redecoration authorised by his Department?

Mr. Stokes

If my hon. Friend will bring any particular case to my notice, I will gladly have it looked into.

6. Mr. Manuel

asked the Minister of Works the number of prosecutions initiated by his Department in Scotland in connection with building activities where the interest concerned has exceeded the sum authorised by the building licence granted by his Department.

Mr. Stokes

There have been nine such prosecutions in Scotland in the last two years.

Mr. Manuel

What is the number of alleged infringements that have been reported to the Department, and how many prosecutions have been successful out of the number initiated by the Department?

Mr. Stokes

I could not say anything about alleged infringements. In all there were 30 cases in which proceedings were taken, in 21 of which the free limit had been exceeded.