HC Deb 08 July 1970 vol 803 cc651-2
13. Mr. Hugh D. Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria he proposes to adopt in assessing the special housing and social needs in urban areas in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Younger

My right hon. Friend is aware of the problems existing in many housing areas, and in the course of his general review of the housing programme he will be taking into account the recommendations in reports made by various committees and working parties which have investigated these problems.

Mr. Brown

Will the hon. Gentleman accept that we were pleasantly surprised that the Prime Minister discovered that there were special problems in Glasgow, not just housing problems, even though it lost the Tories another seat? We want to find out what precise help there will be in the light of the statement that it would come from outside the city.

Mr. Younger

I can well appreciate the hon. Gentleman's concern about this matter. He has raised it and related matters several times in the House. All that I can tell him is that we shall take all the reports into full account in our review of the housing problem.

Mr. MacArthur

When my hon. Friend makes the review, will he also make a study of the special problem of the construction industry in Scotland as a result of the imposition on it of selective employment tax and British Standard Time by the Labour Government? Will he get rid of those two impositions as quickly as possible?

Mr. Younger

This is really a matter for my right hon. Friend to decide, but we shall certainly be making representations in the right quarter.

Mr. Ross

Will the hon. Gentleman give me an answer to a simple question? What is the purpose of the review? Is it to save money or to build more houses?

Mr. Younger

The purpose of the review is to look at the entire housing programme to make sure that the priorities left behind by the previous Government are the best possible to produce a solution to Scotland's housing problem.