§ 2. Mr. W. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated number of houses in Scotland which have an estimated life of less than 15 years; and what is the annual rate of replacement of such houses.
§ Mr. NobleI have no information on which to base such an estimate. The current rate of replacement is about 13,000 a year, and this will increase as the rate of new building increases.
§ Mr. HamiltonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are many thousands of these houses in existence, to the knowledge of hon. Members on both sides of the House, and that some of the worst are in the Prime Minister's constituency? In Kinross there are houses with holes in the walls and holes in the floors. They are being held up by wallpaper almost, but the Prime Minister does nothing about them. Can the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that these houses will be cleared within ten years?
§ Mr. NobleAs I have said before, I see no reason why all the houses outside the main concentrations—and particularly Glasgow—should not be cleared within 10 years.