§ Mr. NICHOLasked the First Commissioner of Works, as representing the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware that the houses erected by the Renfrewshire County Council at Jenny Lind, Spiersbridge, Thornliebank, are nearing completion; that some of them have been occupied by tenants since July; that these houses have been erected with a view to the use of gas but that no supply of gas is available because the board of health refuse to recognise the cost of leading the gas mains to the houses as approved 3198W expenditure; that accordingly the occupiers have no facilities for lighting, cooking, or washing clothes, and that although the tenants are assessed for public lighting, the new streets remain unlighted; and what steps is he prepared to take to remedy this state of affairs?
§ Sir J. BAIRDMy Noble Friend is aware that the position is as stated in the first part of the question. The Scottish Board of Health, in accordance with their general policy, have declined to allow the cost of providing gas mains to rank as a charge against the local authority's State-assisted housing scheme. Negotiations, however, are now in course between the Board and the local authority with a view to an arrangement being come to whereby the mains will be provided by the latter. The public lighting of the streets is also a matter for the local authority.