§ 22. Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to make the Council of the Scottish Special Housing Association an elected body.
§ Dr. Dickson MabonNo, Sir.
§ Mr. DalyellIn these comparatively minor matters of taste and amenity such as the placing of caravans in gardens, could not the S.S.H.A. be more sensitive to the wishes of locally elected town councils?
§ Dr. MabonIt might, but it should be entitled to make judgments. Four of the members of the Council of the S.S.H.A. are serving members of local authorities, and a fifth is a man with distinguished local authority experience.
§ Mr. GalbraithIs the hon. Gentleman aware that I have received a complaint this morning from the honorary secretary of Broomhill Tenants' Association which goes back two years and is in respect of shortcomings of the same kind referred to by the hon. Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell), carried out by the Scottish Special Housing Association? Why is this body so lacking in responsiveness to the wishes of its tenants? Is it that it may be suited for building houses, but not for managing them?
§ Dr. MabonThe hon. Gentleman is on a different point. However, if he will be good enough to let me see the letter, I will draw it to the attention of the S.S.H.A. I must emphasise, however, that the Council is set up to manage the affairs of the body, and, on the whole, it does it very well.