§ 38. Mr. Thornton-Kemsleyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland in respect of how many houses in Scotland repairs increases have been made in terms of Part II of the Housing (Repairs and Rents) (Scotland) Act, 1954; in how many cases certificates of disrepair have been issued; and in how many of these cases they have been withdrawn subsequently or revoked upon appeal.
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. James Stuart)According to the current valuation rolls, repairs increases are payable in respect of 14,417 houses.
22 As the answer to the second part of the Question involves a table of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the table:
| I. Certificates of disrepair (issued under Section 18 (1) of the 1954 Act) | |
| Number of applications for certificates of disrepair | 4,683 |
| Granted | 3,228 |
| Refused | 988 |
| Withdrawn or still under consideration | 467 |
§ Of the 4,683 applications for certificates, 2,444 were in respect of houses which had been the subject of a notice of repairs increase under the 1954 Act and 2,239 were in respect of houses where no repairs increase had been claimed.
| Number of applications for revocation of certificates of disrepair | 765 |
| Granted | 600 |
| Refused | 30 |
| Withdrawn or still under consideration | 135 |
| II. Certificates of service of notices requiring execution of works under Section 7 of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1950 (issued under Section 18 (2) of the 1954 Act) | |
| Number of certificates issued | 26 |
| Number of applications for revocation of certificates | 1 |
| Granted | 1 |
| III. Certificates of repair and certificates of refusal to grant repair certificates (issued under Section 20 and the Second Schedule of the 1954 Act) | |
| Number of applications for certificates of repair | 108 |
| Granted | 52 |
| Refused | 52 |
| Withdrawn or still under consideration | 4 |
| Number of applications for revocation of certificate of refusal | 1 |
| Granted | 1 |
§ 39 and 40. Mr. Thornton-Kemsleyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what proposals have been made for the temporary repair of old houses with the aid of Exchequer subsidies in terms of Part I of the Housing (Repairs and Rents) (Scotland) Act, 1954;
(2) what proposals he has received from local authorities for the demolition of unfit houses and the rehousing of the dispossessed during the next three years, as required under Part I of the Housing (Repairs and Rents) (Scotland) Act, 1954.
§ Mr. J. StuartAt the 19th October, 147 local authorities had submitted statements showing that 166,000 houses in their districts are unfit. They consider that of this number 42,000 can be rendered fit 23 by the carrying out of work by the owners. During the next three years these authorities themselves propose to demolish 25,000 houses and to retain 450 in clearance areas temporarily in occupation pending demolition. They estimate that 26,000 new houses may be required for rehousing purposes.
Proposals have yet to be received from eighty-three local authorities, including some of the largest.
§ Mr. Thornton-KemsleyHas my right hon. Friend been able to form any estimate of the time within which all slum property in Scotland could be cleared?
§ Mr. StuartI am afraid I cannot give my hon. Friend any definite view. In many areas I hope it will be within ten years, but in others it will take longer.
§ Mr. WoodburnIs the right hon. Gentleman proposing to report to the House whether this Act is really being effective or not, as there are many statements to the effect that certain parts of the Act are proving quite ineffective? Has he any information on the subject?
§ Mr. StuartIt is being effective up to a point, but it is fairly early yet. I hope that the Act will become more effective in the course of time.