HC Deb 06 March 1968 vol 760 cc420-1
16. Mr Adam Hunter

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the number of houses involved in the proposed housing cuts in the County of Fife.

Mr. Ross

As I said earier, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Scotstoun (Mr. Small), the limitation of approvals necessitates consultations with housing authorities throughout Scotland. As a first step, we have asked them which schemes in their programmes are likely to come to tender stage in 1968.

Mr. Hunter

I thank my right hon. Friend. Does this mean that there will be no cuts in house building in Fife? If so, will he give an assurance that this trend will be carried on over the next two years?

Mr. Ross

It is no good my saying that we are to have discussions with Fife if I give the answer to those discussions before they have taken place. We had better wait and see.

Mr. Manuel

Can my right hon. Friend make it clear that, if the County of Fife concentrated solely in the next year on slum clearance building, it would not have a cut at all?

Mr. Ross

Let us be realistic. The County of Fife has problems in relation to building for economic growth as well as slum clearance. I have given an assurance that, as far as possible, we shall see that there are no cuts or moderation of the increase. The figure of 34,500 is greater than we expected over the last year. We shall not affect slum clearance, the urgent need for economic growth or building to remedy a shortage of houses.