§ 36. Mrs. Hartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses have so far been built in East Kilbride; how many are yet to be built; and how many of the latter are intended for occupation by children of present tenants when they grow up, marry, and wish to settle in their home-town.
§ Mr. MaclayThe Development Corporation has already built 8,830 houses, and about 9,000 more are likely to be needed to house the planned population of 70,000. This total will no doubt include a considerable number of children of present tenants, but no specific number of future houses is earmarked for this purpose.
§ Mrs. HartIs it not time that the Secretary of State gave very serious consideration indeed to the question of the future natural growth of East Kilbride? As at least half the children born in the town are likely to want to settle there, if the target figure remains at 70,000, as the right hon. Gentleman has indicated, no more houses ought to be built in East Kilbride at this stage but the rest should be earmarked for future growth.
§ Mr. MaclayWe are getting into some fairly complicated mathematics in this operation, because there are many variable factors involved—for example, the age structure of the population still to come, the types of future industrial employment, and the personal choice of individuals. However, we are aware of the problem raised by the hon. Lady. Although 70,000 is the limit on the present plans, it is not necessarily the all-time limit of the town.
§ Mr. MaclayOne cannot tell at this stage.
§ 37. Mrs. Hartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that there is at present no community centre in the new town of East Kilbride; and, 433 in view of the financial strain placed upon the local authority by its school building programme in the town, what steps he proposes to take to meet the urgent and growing need for community facilities.
§ Mr. MaclayI visited East Kilbride on 4th May and I am well aware of the desire for community facilities there. This is mainly a matter for the local authorities and the local voluntary organisations. One scheme for a public hall proposed by the district council has been approved in principle and consultations about another are proceeding. Any further proposals from the local authorities or local voluntary organisations will be most carefully considered and where practicable supported to the full extent of our existing powers.
§ Mrs. HartIs the Secretary of State aware what nonsense he is talking when he even suggests that the local authority in Lanarkshire might be able to contribute towards the cost of community buildings? Is he not very well aware of the tremendous strain being put on the local authority by the school building programme? Is he aware that voluntary organisations in East Kilbride cannot possibly raise an amount of money even substantial enough for the Development Corporation to make up the rest? Is it not time that he himself took a direct financial step to assist in the solution of this problem, of which he is fully aware?
§ Mr. MaclayI am concerned about the problem. The hon. Lady knows the extent of my powers to assist. She knows that local authorities and voluntary organisations are working on these problems with my Department at the moment.