HC Deb 06 March 1968 vol 760 cc415-6
6. Mr. Small

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of houses involved in the proposed housing cuts in the City of Glasgow.

Mr. Ross

The limitation of approvals necessitates consultations with housing authorities throughout Scotland, but it is clear that Glasgow's programme will not be affected.

Mr. Small

I am grateful for that Answer. Does my right hon. Friend recall that I have previously put down Questions about certain local authorities which failed to meet targets? Will he reconsider the quota of those which failed to make progress and make an additional allocation to Glasgow?

Mr. Ross

I do not think that we need to do it in that particular way. We shall do this in consultation with the local authorities and our aim is to ensure that we get our total without impinging on slum clearance anywhere or schemes related to economic growth or to acute shortage and difficulties of particular areas.

Mr. Noble

I entirely accept the Secretary of State's real concern about the housing situation in Glasgow. But is he confident that with the extra very great storm damage there will be enough skilled people to carry on the programme as fast as he would like?

Mr. Ross

I have already said that we must watch this pretty carefully, because if we take people off the completion of houses to do urgent work we may be doing more damage to the completion programme. Moreover, if slaters are not on the roofs at particular times in relation to the completion of new houses, that throws out other tradesmen and creates unemployment. But I understand that the programme is progressing reasonably well at present.