HC Deb 13 March 1956 vol 550 cc208-9
4 and 5. Mr. Woodburn

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he has considered the evidence submitted to him by the right hon. Member for Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire, that many old people are living below bare subsistence level owing to inability to get houses at small rents; and whether he will investigate the problem;

(2) whether he will, through the Scottish Special Housing Association or otherwise, take steps for the provision of suitable and reasonably rented small houses so as to enable old people to retain a larger proportion of their income for food.

Mr. J. N. Browne

Local authorities are encouraged to provide small houses for old people and have built a substantial number for this purpose since the war. It is for the local authority to fix reasonable rents, and they have power to grant rent rebates where necessary. I have no detailed evidence of the financial difficulties of old people such as are referred to, but if the right hon. Gentleman gives me information about any particular cases, I shall be glad to make inquiries.

Mr. Woodburn

I take it that the hon. Gentleman has seen the report of the welfare officers who met at Stirling and who, I take it, were representative of the local authorities in Scotland? One of the complaints in the report was that because they cannot get suitable houses old people are compelled to occupy much bigger and more expensive houses than they can afford, and that therefore they have not enough money left to buy food. Will the right hon. Gentleman and his hon. Friends take that into account and ask the local authorities to look into the question to see whether anything can be done?

Mr. Browne

I am most sympathetic with the problems of old people, and I appreciate that we still have a long way to go in the provision of accommodation Concerning rents, those old people who are worst off are able to draw their entire rent, whether high or low, from National Assistance, and there are still far too many old people who ought to do this but, as we all know, do not do so.

Mr. Woodburn

When consulting the local authorities on 20th April and discussing subsidies, will the Secretary of State make it clear that he does not propose to withdraw the subsidy for this type of house?

Mr. Browne

That matter will be taken into consideration.