HC Deb 15 July 1947 vol 440 cc29-31W
84. Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered the representations made to him by the Forfar and Dumbarton Town Councils on the subject of the financial burdens falling upon local authorities by reason of the cutting down of the Government's housing programme; and what answer he has made to them.

87. Mr. Maclay

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the town council of the Royal Burgh of Forfar in connection with the additional financial burden likely to fall upon that local authority in respect of houses now under construction, which, owing to recent decisions by his Department, must remain uncompleted for an unknown period; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Westwood

I have considered the representations submitted by Forfar Town Council and a number of other local authorities; but as I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Sir B. Neven-Spence) on 8th July, the object of the 1947 programme is to expedite the completion of houses which will accordingly become rent-producing more quickly than would otherwise be the case, and I cannot agree that additional financial burdens will fall on local authorities because of this policy. As I recently reported to toe House, I have decided to continue toe rates of contributions current at 30th June, 1947, for houses completed during the year after that date.

88. Mr. Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to ensure that the house-building programme in Scotland will not be limited by any shortage of operatives.

Mr. Buchanan

While the housing programme is being held up primarily by shortages of materials, there are shortages of labour, particularly of bricklayers, in certain areas. There has however been a decline in the number of outstanding vacancies for bricklayers and some other trades in the past few weeks. I am in close touch with my right hon. Friends the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Works in order to ensure that the labour force will be adequate to meet demands. I understand that in spite of the numbers of outstanding vacancies over 600 trainees from Ministry of Labour training centres have not yet found employment, and I trust that in view of the urgent need for skilled labour, especially bricklaying labour, both sides of the industry will do their utmost to absorb these men as soon as possible