§ 34. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the official visit of the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland to Aberdeen on 12th March and on his plans to improve the housing situation in Aberdeen.
§ Mr. RossMy hon. Friend met the housing and planning committees of Aberdeen Corporation, principally to discuss the proposed redevelopment of a large housing area which will provide nearly 2,500 houses, some in multi-storey blocks. The redevelopment was approved, and my hon. Friend promised the Corporation every assistance in the solution of its future housing and planning problems.
§ Mr. HughesI thank my right hon. Friend for the visit of his Minister, but will he tell the House whether the Minister visited the great and constructive housing schemes in operation in Aberdeen and, if so, whether he was so impressed by them that he will give them every assistance they require for further development?
§ Mr. RossI thought that I had already said that my hon. Friend promised every assistance in the solution of these future housing and planning problems. I assure my hon. and learned Friend that it is only because Aberdeen is so important, because it has such a special character, that we take such great care in relation to the correctness of its decisions on planning.
§ Lady TweedsmuirWill the right hon. Gentleman state what action was taken by the Under-Secretary to encourage the town council to give more opportunities for the industrialised system of building now under experiment in one scheme? Secondly, will he say what he has done to encourage greater slum clearance?
§ Mr. RossI assure the noble Lady that my hon. Friend dealt with this point in his discussions. I do not know whether she is already aware of it, but on Friday a further conference of local authorities is to be held—and I hope that Aberdeen will be represented—to go especially into further measures of help and advice with regard to system-building in Scotland.