Mr. G. MURRAYasked the Secretary for Scotland whether the building of houses under the Government housing schemes has started in Glasgow; if so, what number of houses are in course of erection and in what localities; and will he give details of all plans already approved for Glasgow by the Local Government Board, including the locality of each plan, the number of houses to be erected under each plan, and the acreage covered by each plan?
§ Mr. MUNROThe building of 126 houses on a site at Coplawhill has been commenced, and operations will begin immediately on the erection of sixteen houses at Gilshochill. Lay-out and type-plans for the erection of 3,513 houses on five different sites have been formally approved by the Scottish Board of Health. I shall send my hon. Friend the particulars he desires in regard to each site in detail. The sites referred to are those on which 589W the corporation propose to make a commencement, but in addition to these the Board have provisionally approved sites at Lenhamhill, Greenhead, Bellahouston, Cathcart Road, and Blackhill (South). In respect of these latter sites, however, plans have not yet been submitted for the Board's formal approval.
Mr. G. MURRAYasked the Secretary for Scotland whether the Local Government Board for Scotland is taking all measures possible to expedite the approval of plans under the Government housing schemes; and whether he will ensure that there is no avoidable delay in this respect owing to over-caution on the part of the Local Government Board in approving every detail of a plan, and not leaving discretionary powers to a local authority after having given general approval to the main scheme of such plan and its principal details?
§ Mr. MUNROThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, it has been found necessary to scrutinise all plans very carefully, in order to ensure that the financial liabilities of the State are kept within reasonable bounds. It has been repeatedly demonstrated that the saving effected in matters of detail represents a very considerable amount when spread over a whole scheme or series of schemes. I can assure my hon. Friend, however, that there will be no delay due to over-caution. In a number of cases local authorities have expressed appreciation of the advice given by the Board of Health's architectural inspectors.