§ 39 and 40. Mr. Hoyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many substandard houses there are in Leith; and if he will give an estimate of what percentage this is of the houses coming within the control of the Rent Restriction Acts;
§ (2) how many sub-standard houses there are in the city of Edinburgh; and if he will give an estimate of what percentage this is of the houses coming within the control of the Rent Restriction Acts.
Commander GalbraithA survey by Edinburgh Corporation in 1946 showed that 6,781 houses could be regarded as unfit and 39,108 as sub-standard but not unfit. Of these houses, 1,733 and 8,994 respectively were in Leith. As regards the second part of the Questions, no information is available on which to base any reliable estimate.
§ Mr. HoyIn view of these very large figures, can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say what proportion of these houses fall to be dealt with under the new Housing Repairs and Rents (Scotland) Bill, and how much it is going to take to put them into a habitable condition?
§ Mr. HoyIf the right hon. and gallant Gentleman does not have this information, how did he produce this Bill which is supposed to deal with the problem, and how does he know what the problem is?