Mr. McNeilasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered the scheme submitted to him for the employment of spare-time volunteer labour on house building in Greenock; and if he has any statement to make.
Mr. JohnstonI have given this scheme personal attention and welcome it as a possible means of meeting the labour shortage that so severely curtails building programmes. There are, however, as I have informed my hon. Friend, one or two points in the proposals which will require to be cleared up before it could be put into operation. If these points can676W be satisfactorily adjusted I shall be glad to do anything I can to have the experiment started in Greenock.
Major Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many owner-occupied houses there are in Scotland.
Mr. JohnstonI am informed that the figures are not available and that their preparation would entail a detailed analysis of every Valuation Roll. I am afraid I do not feel justified in asking for this to be done at the present time.