HC Deb 16 October 1968 vol 770 cc374-5
38. Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the value of school building completed in the years 1960 to 1968, respectively, in the county of Midlothian.

Mr. Ross

As the reply contains a number of figures, I shall, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Eadie

I thank my right hon. Friend for his Answer, but would he also circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the comparison of the figures which were achieved during the term of office of the party opposite?

Mr. Ross

For the five years from 1960 to 1964, inclusive, the value of school building completed in Midlothian was £2.167 million, and in the three years from 1965 to 1967, inclusive, the value was £2.517 million.

The figures are as follows:

£
1960 538,000
1961 245,000
1962 403,000
1963 580,000
1964 401,000
1965 656,000
1966 1,145,000
1967 716,000

The value for 1968 will not be known until after the end of the year.

39. Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of houses completed in the years 1960 to 1968, respectively, in the county of Midlothian; and what was the annual capital sum involved.

Mr. Ross

With permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of houses completed in each calendar year. The information available about capital expenditure does not enable me to answer the second part of the question.

Mr. Eadie

Would my right hon. Friend agree, since there is at the present time so much discussion about housing, that the provision of houses is a social investment towards the well-being of people? Will he also, since he is talking about figures, circulate the comparative figures during the term of office of the party opposite?

Mr. Ross

It is because of the importance we place upon the provision of new housing in Scotland that we welcome the improvement that there has been, and I think the whole House will welcome it. From 1960 to 1964, inclusive, the number of houses completed in the five years in the county of Midlothian was 3,998. In the last three and a half years, from 1965 to 30th June this year, the number is 5,106.

Following is the Table:

Number of Houses Completed
Year Public Sector Private Sector Total
1960 399 330 729
1961 537 461 998
1962 358 481 839
1963 638 128 766
1964 511 155 666
1965 600 476 1,076
1966 853 532 1,385
1967 1,295 313 1,608
1968 (to 30th June) 767 270 1,037