§ 2. Mr. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he intends to take to secure some measure of rent stabilisation, especially in developing mining areas, in order to encourage the influx of the necessary mining force.
§ Mr. MaclayIt is the responsibility of the local authorities to fix the rents of their houses, whether in mining areas or elsewhere, and I have no power to intervene.
§ Mr. HamiltonI can scarcely forbear rude comment on that Answer. Would 1007 not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is difficult, in any event, to get miners to move from declining mining areas into developing areas without the additional burden of increased rents such as have been charged in part of the developing mining area in Dumfriesshire? Will he at least undertake not to make the burden of local authorities more difficult by the imposition of such things as increased interest charges and the reduction in housing subsidies?
§ Mr. MaclayI really think that I have answered the Question on the Order Paper.