§ 23. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered a letter from the Dumfries shire Tenants Committee on the question of the recent increase in rents in the county; whether he proposes to receive a deputation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MaclayI have told the committee that the rent to be charged for houses belonging to a local authority is a matter for the local authority itself. I have, however, indicated that my Department will receive the deputation which the committee proposes to send on 11th May and will report their representations to me and to the county council.
§ Mr. HughesIs the Minister also aware that these enormous increases of rent are not merely a problem for the local authority, but that this is an area in which there are incoming miners, and that the future of the coal mining industry and the output of coal depends on reasonable rents of council houses? 789 Will he keep in mind the fact that Mr. Moffat, President of the Scottish Miners' Union, recently warned the Government that if this position is not changed there will be serious industrial trouble and probably strikes?
§ Mr. MaclayI have really nothing to add to what I have said. The Son. Member is going rather beyond the terms of his immediate question.
§ Mr. WoodburnIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this particular increase at Dumfries has sent a shock through the whole of the tenancies in Scotland, and that people are really very alarmed? Are we to understand that it is to be the outcome of Government legislation that local authorities are to behave in what seems to be a quite irresponsible fashion?