§ 28. Mr. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the average rent of four-apartment council houses built in Scotland in 1950 and 1954, respectively.
§ Mr. J. StuartI regret that information about the rents of houses built in the years in question is not available. The information given in the published rent returns relates to the average rent charged for all post-war four-apartment houses. This was £31 12s. 10d. in November, 1954.
§ 29. Mr. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the estimated annual cost of building and maintaining a house, the capital cost of which, £1,550, is borrowed at current Public Works Loans Board rate of interest.
§ Mr. J. StuartThe loan charges on this capital cost together with the cost of maintenance and management would amount to about £93 a year for sixty years.
§ Mr. RossFrom the figures that we have been given by the Secretary of State, does he not appreciate that in limiting house building for general needs in future years—when we do make the decision for Scotland—the building of houses of such a rent, quite apart from rates, is the best way of abolishing the housing queue and at the same time building up a much greater need for housing in the future and creating slums?
§ Mr. StuartI answered the Question on the Paper. Of course, we are pro-ceding along the lines that we think will be effective in dealing with overspill, slum clearance and the housing problem in general. I do not know whether I could enlarge upon that at this moment.