§ 35. Mr. Hugh D. Brownasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated number of houses to be completed in 1967; and how many are for local authorities, Scottish special housing associations, new own corporations, and owner-occupation, respectively.
§ Dr. Dickson MabonI cannot add to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 29th November.—[Vol. 755, c. 110.]
§ Mr. BrownIs my hon. Friend aware that there is a wide variation in the proportion of owner-occupation to council houses within certain local authorities? For instance, in Glasgow there is no spare land to enable people to indulge in the more lucrative practice of owner-occupation. Would my hon. Friend bear that in mind when considering the rate support grant allocation?
§ Dr. MabonI do not see the relevance of the last part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question. The working party, which we established with the private builders, has been able to identify a number of areas suitable for private building in Scotland, and consultations are going on with local authorities asking them to help, as the White Paper in 1966 asked, to find land where owner-occupation could take place alongside an expanded local authority programme.
§ Mr. David SteelWould the hon. Gentleman continue his excellent series of visits to housing authorities throughout Scotland by visiting those county councils which admittedly have small housing programmes?
§ Dr. MabonYes. I should be very happy to accept an invitation to the hon. Gentleman's constituency.