§ 3. Mr. Hendryasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what rate of subsidy he proposes to pay in respect of 12 houses in the King Street Development in the Burgh of Huntly for which the town council submitted proposals to him on 12th April, 1961.
§ Mr. LeburnThe rate of subsidy paid will be the amount determined in accordance with Section 3 of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1962.
§ Mr. HendryIs not this a most extraordinary state of affairs, considering that the relevant date for the new rate of subsidy was 1st November, 1961; that the 417 proposals were made by the local authority on 12th April, 1961, and resubmitted at the request of my right hon. Friend on 1st October, 1961? In those circumstances, according to last year's Act, should not the rate of subsidy be the old rate payable under the previous Act?
§ Mr. LeburnNo. The difference between my hon. Friend and myself lies in the interpretation of the word "proposals". The tenders were not submitted until 3rd May, 1962, and the subsidy will therefore qualify under the 1962 Act.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Clark Hutchison.
§ Mr. HendryOn a point of order. In view of the very unsatisfactory nature of the reply——
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I called Mr. Clark Hutchison.
§ Mr. Clark HutchisonAs these houses are needed, would it not be wise to go ahead with them, and not quibble about the circumstances?
§ Mr. LeburnI do not think that there is any dispute about that.
§ Mr. RossIs it not the case that the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, West (Mr. Hendry) voted for this? Is not he aware that if he had supported one of the Opposition Amendments his point would have been covered?
§ Mr. LeburnThe only difference here between my hon. Friend and myself lies in the interpretation of the word "proposals".