§ Mr. N. MACLEANasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that there are 60 houses in the town of Thurso which are certified by the sanitary inspector for the burgh and county as not in a reasonable state of repair; that there are between 30 and 40 houses condemned; that the tenants are being asked to pay increase of rent for these houses under the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act; that, the tenants are being asked to keep their dwellings in all interior repairs at their own personal expense; that the burgh council refuses to prosecute the owners for the insanitary condition of the houses; whether his attention has been officially drawn to 2049W allegations that any of the local councillors are interested in these houses which have been condemned by the public health officials; and what action he has taken or intends to take?
§ Mr. MUNROMy attention had not been drawn to the matters referred to in this question, but I have caused inquiry to be made and I am informed that the facts are as follow: Under the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act, 1920, 58 applications were made to the town council of Thurso for certificates that certain houses, the rents of which the proprietors proposed to raise, were not in any reasonable state of repair. The burgh sanitary inspector reported that 52 of the houses were not in a reasonable state of repair, and in each of these cases the town council granted the certificate desired. None of the tenants who obtained these certificates appear to have applied to the sheriff for an order suspending the increase of rent. No local complaint has been made that tenants are being asked to keep their houses in internal repair at their own expense, and the local officials are not aware of any case in which this is either being asked or done. No condemned houses in the burgh are at present occupied. The town council has not refused to institute proceedings against owners of insanitary houses. I have no information to support the allegations referred to in the penultimate part of the question, and I see no reason to take any action in the matter.