HC Deb 23 April 1964 vol 693 cc1505-6
Q5. Mr. Rankin

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech by the Secretary of State for Scotland, at Aberdeen on Tuesday, 14th April, on slum clearance in Scotland, represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Rankin

Is the Prime Minister aware that, at Aberdeen, the Secretary of State for Scotland promised on behalf of the Government that he would wipe out slums in Scotland in 10 years, with the exception of those in the City of Glasgow? Why did he make an exception in the case of Glasgow? Is it because he will take longer to do the job in Glasgow or is he to do it in less than 10 years? If that be the case, will the Prime Minister keep in mind that the only thing that Tory Governments of the past 12 years have done in relation to slumdom in Glasgow is to leave us with 100,000 slum houses today? Are the Government going to wipe them out in 10 years?

The Prime Minister

What my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland said was that the present rate of rehousing will clear all the slums in Scotland except possibly those in Glasgow in the next 10 years or so. When the hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr Rankin) says that we have done nothing, I would remind him that we have built over 375,000 houses in Scotland in the last 12 years and that 34,000 to 40,000 will be built this year. The problem of clearing the slums in a big city is much more difficult than in any other place. That is why it takes longer.

Mr. Rankin

As the Secretary of State for Scotland has committed the Government to a plan to abolish slums in Scotland, will the Prime Minister tell us what time it will take to wipe out the slums that now exist in Glasgow?

The Prime Minister

The Secretary of State gave the best indication that he could when he said that we aim to do it in 10 years, but it may take longer, of course.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

Since this is St. George's Day, may I ask the Prime Minister whether perhaps Glasgow might not get on better if it changed the hon. Member for Govan?

Mr. Speaker

The answer involves no introduction of the dragon. I think that we had better proceed.