HC Deb 24 February 1938 vol 332 cc561-2W
Mr. R. Gibson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will take steps, in view of the increase in building costs, to increase substantially the subsidies available to local authorities of £6 15s. under the Housing Act of 1935, and of £2 10s., unit grant, under the Housing Act, 1930, and to make such increased subsidies apply retrospectively; and whether he has any statement to make on the subject?

Mr. Elliot

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer which I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for East Fife (Mr. Henderson Stewart) and the hon. Member for Stirling and Falkirk (Mr. Westwood) on 15th February.

Criminal Trials. Civil Trials. Fatal Accident Inquiries.
City of Edinburgh 452 men 1,306 men 42 men
430 women 1,113 women 41 women
Midlothian 116 men 190 men 24 men
114 women 190 women 17 women
East Lothian 31 men 96 men 21 men
28 women 96 women 21 women
West Lothian 27 men 188 men 32 men
28 women 188 women 30 women

Mr. R. Gibson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will take steps, in conjunction with the appropriate trade unions of employers and employés, respectively, with a view to increasing the labour force available for the construction of houses in Scotland; and whether he has any statement to make on the subject?

Mr. Elliot

As a result of discussions which I have already had with the building industry, a joint consultative committee representative of the employers and operatives, is engaged in giving effect to an agreement for augmenting the personnel of the industry. Particulars of this agreement are contained in my reply to a question by the hon. Member for Stirling and Falkirk on the 20th July last. Recent reports indicate that in general the supply of skilled labour available for housing schemes is appreciably greater than it was in the summer of last year and I am hopeful that the position will improve still further in the course of the coming year.

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