§ 40. Mr. McInnesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish as a White Paper the Report of the Sub-Committee of the Scottish Building Costs Committee on the increase in cost of maintaining houses.
§ Mr. J. StuartNo, Sir. I have already arranged for copies of the published Report to be made available in the Library to hon. Members.
§ Mr. McInnesIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that when he introduced his housing policy last Wednesday he referred to this Committee and, indeed, that his full case for increasing rents rested on this Committee's Report? Is he aware that no Member of this House had seen the Report and, in fact, had never heard of the Committee? Is he aware that this is a characteristic feature of the Scottish Office in recent years—that dozens of committees are appointed, reports are evidently made and those reports are not made available to Members of this House?
§ Mr. StuartReports have been made available in the Library. I have asked about this matter and I am assured by the authorities that there is nothing to stop a reference being made to the Report in debate in this House, just as I referred to it.