§ 9. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he intends to initiate to rehabilitate older houses in both the private and public sectors; and how many houses he estimates will be so rehabilitated in the next 10 years.
§ Mr. RossMy plans were outlined in the White Paper on The Older Houses in Scotland. published in July. The legislation to be introduced this session will aim to stimulate action both by private owners and by local authorities, but I cannot quantify its likely effects over the next 10 years.
§ Mr. HamiltonWe shall await with interest the legislation coming forward. Meanwhile, what was done in this matter in 1960–64?
§ Mr. RossThe last Act purporting to deal with the matter, passed before the 1964 election, has proved a dismal failure in respect of its use by the local authorities. But I would not minimise the difficulties of the problem.
§ Mr. David SteelWhat has the right hon. Gentleman done about the recommendation in the Cullingworth Report that an inquiry should be instituted into the problem of older houses and slum houses in rural areas?
§ Mr. RossThis is one of the aspects in which there was, over a period, more success in relation to the use of existing legislation because of the tied house factor. The legislative change was made in the early 1950s.