HC Deb 30 April 1974 vol 872 cc913-4
1. Mr. David Steel

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many firms have made representations to local Department of Employment offices seeking advice on housing for incoming workers.

The Under-Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. John Fraser)

No records of the kind of representations referred to by the hon. Member are kept.

Mr. Steel

Will the Minister look at this matter, particularly in Scotland, where we have the advantage of the Government housing agency—the SSHA—to see whether the local offices of the Department of Employment can give more generous forecasts of housing requirements, as present experience is that they stick to very conservative estimates, with the result that there is no pool of housing available for incoming workers?

Mr. Fraser

The hon. Gentleman has mentioned this before. We welcome the priority given to housing in Scotland. In Scotland, all Departments with an interest are represented on the Interdepartmental Committee on Housing for Industry which is a committee of the Economic Planning Board for Scotland. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will also be happy to listen to representations which the hon. Member makes.