HC Deb 28 June 1967 vol 749 cc510-1
43. Mr. Galbraith

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place an upper limit on the building cost of local authority houses.

Dr. Dickson Mabon

Consultations are at present taking place with the local authority associations about upper limits of costs which will be accepted for Exchequer subsidy purposes.

Mr. Galbraith

Is not the present situation absolutely absurd when as much as £5,000 can be spent on building luxury flats? Surely the Secretary of State should have a higher sense of responsibility for the homeless and not allow flats costing as much as £5,000 to be built out of public funds.

Dr. Mabon

I do not know the precise example which the hon. Gentleman is talking about, but if he sends me details I will look into it. I thought that he was talking about the cost limits which we intend to introduce following the new Housing Subsidies Bill. Any cost limit we introduce will allow provision of well-designed houses according to the Scottish Housing Handbook and the Building Standards Regulations. I thought that this was a most commendable way of proceeding and that the hon. Gentleman would give us his support.

Mr. Tom McMillan

Is there not some connection between this Question and the hon. Gentleman's assessment of council house tenants?

Mr. Galbraith

May I just intervene—

Mr. Speaker

Order. There are no special privileges at Question Time, even for back benchers.