HC Deb 15 June 1966 vol 729 cc1434-5
12. Mr. Younger

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made by the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee in their consideration of the methods whereby local authorities allocate their houses.

Mr. Ross

I hope to have the Committee's report by the end of the year.

Mr. Younger

Will the right hon. Gentleman pursue the results of this report with the greatest speed? Does he not agree that many people are put in a position of great hardship by having to move, sometimes only a short distance of two or three miles, crossing the boundary of a local authority and then losing their priority on the housing list? Will he look at this very sympathetically?

Mr. Ross

I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Edward M. Taylor

Is the Secretary of State aware of the special problem in Glasgow, where more than 90 per cent. of flats for single persons and aged couples are allocated to existing council tenants, as a result of which people in privately rented property, single people or aged couples, do not have very much hope of getting such accommodation? Will that be covered by the report?

Mr. Ross

The report will be covering all forms of allocation. The Committee has asked for information from local authorities throughout Scotland and most of them have already provided it. The Committee will be able to assess it and so be helped in reaching its findings.