§ 32. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to approve the request made to him by the Glasgow Corporation for authority to requisition certain empty houses to the number of approximately 1,500 in view of the number of homeless in Glasgow at the present time.
Commander GalbraithMy right hon. Friend has informed the Corporation that he cannot accede to their request.
§ Mr. RankinIn view of the fact that people in Glasgow are being sent to prison for squatting in vacant houses, is it not possible for the Secretary of State to get in touch with the Glasgow Corporation to decrease this very serious local problem? Can the Joint Under-Secretary say what is to be done about it?
Commander GalbraithI would remind the hon. Member that local authorities need not rely on private citizens in order to meet their housing needs. They have adequate powers to acquire houses, and my right hon. Friend has brought this fact to the notice of the Glasgow Corporation.