§ 20. Mr. Gourlayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of houses built by Kirkcaldy Town Council in the years 1957, 1958, and 1959, respectively; and whether, in view 1159 of Circular 33/1960, he will give an assurance that no deduction will take place in the numbers to be approved for subsidy purposes while homeless and overcrowded families remain on the Kirkcaldy housing list.
§ Mr. MaclayKirkcaldy Town Council completed 416 houses in 1957, 188 in 1958 and 233 in 1959. As indicated in reply to earlier Questions, I am ready to examine with any council proposals to build for needs outside the priority categories defined in the recent circular.
§ Mr. GourlayIs not the Secretary of State aware that his previous Answers indicate that those local authorities which have been allocating a substantial percentage of their new houses over the past years to persons in unfit houses are penalised under the circular and that he will cause considerable hardship and suffering to those persons still on the waiting lists for the homeless and overcrowded? If that is not the case, why issue the circular?
§ Mr. MaclayI think that the hon. Gentleman is taking an entirely gloomy view of the circular which is not substantiated by its wording. If a local authority takes the view that there is an exceptional need to build new houses for families which are overcrowded I should not refuse approval for subsidy purposes, if the case could be fully substantiated.