§ 32. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that the escalation of property values now taking place in Glasgow will not prejudice the redevelopment plan which he has approved for the city.
§ Mr. MaclayI have had no representations that there have been undue rises in property values in Glasgow which might hinder redevelopment.
§ Mr. RankinWill the Secretary of State acquaint himself more closely with what is going on in Glasgow? Does not he realise that at the weekend we were 1352 given quite a number of examples of extremely sharp rises in the value of property in the centre of Glasgow, and that the reason for the gambling is the redevelopment plan envisaged for the city? Is he telling us that in fact he has frozen, or will he consider freezing, property values at the point in time when he approved the redevelopment plan for Glasgow?
§ Mr. MaclayNo, Sir, I will not say that in answer to the supplementary question put by the hon. Gentleman. I find it difficult to follow what he wants, but I think that I covered the point in my answers to Question No. 31. I am not convinced that, so far, values have risen unreasonably, but we shall watch the position and see how things go.
§ Mr. RankinIf the right hon. Gentleman is not convinced that values have risen very sharply indeed, is he aware that not far from where I live one-sixth of an acre of land was purchased by an oil distributing company for £14,000—that is, £84,000 per acre? Is not that a sharp rise in land prices?
§ Mr. MaclayI was not aware of the price about which the hon. Gentleman spoke.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Wingfield Digby.
§ Mr. RankinOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Surely—
§ Mr. RankinMay I have your guidance, Mr. Speaker, about putting this point? In his second reply the right hon. Gentleman said that he was not aware of any sharp increase in property values in Glasgow. I have given him one, which is one of many. Will he now act on the information which I have given to him?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman rose to a point of order. Will he be good enough to indicate what is his point of order?
§ Mr. RankinI changed it to seek your guidance, Mr. Speaker, which is more valuable than any point of order.