§ 23. Mr. Manuelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount of subsidy which will be paid for each 366 approved house for each local authority provided under Section 3 of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1962, for the year ended 1st November, 1962.
§ Mr. LeburnNone of the houses completed in the year ended 31st October, 1962, has ranked for subsidy under Section 3. All have ranked for subsidy under earlier legislation, except for 32 houses ranking under provisions of the 1962 Act other than Section 3.
§ Mr. ManuelThe sting is in the tail of the hon. Gentleman's reply. He will be aware that the subsidy provisions of the 1962 Housing Act are retrospective in their application to 1st November, 1961. It is astonishing that he cannot give me a clear picture of the number of houses completed since 1st November last year and so tell us the actual number of authorities which are receiving the lower subsidy figure.
§ Mr. LeburnIt is true, as the hon. Gentleman says, that it is only houses for which tenders have been received since 1st November, 1961, which qualify for subsidy under the 1962 Act, but so far no houses have been completed and, therefore, I am unable to answer his question.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Manuel.
§ Mr. ManuelI could tell the hon Gentleman of many houses——
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman cannot tell the Minister anything now. This is time for Questions.
§ Mr. ManuelOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Did you call me for the next Question or on Question No. 23?
§ Mr. SpeakerI called the hon. Gentleman without specifying, which left him at liberty to ask a supplementary question, but he then did not ask a question at all and so I was obliged to intervene.
§ Mr. ManuelMy recollection is that I said "Could I tell the hon. Gentleman".
§ Mr. SpeakerI am afraid that that is an interrogatory form which does not Impress me. Perhaps we had better get on to the next Question.