83. Major Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that Mr. David Irvine, who has had 14 years Regular and Territorial service and was five years a prisoner of war, was recently evicted from his lodgings with his wife and five children; that in consequence the family is now divided between three separate dwellings and the Burgh of Barrhead has no prospect of being able to provide a home for the whole family since its permitted building programme is insufficient to meet normal wastage and it has been refused permission to contract for further building; and what action he proposes to take to enable local authorities to deal with their housing requirements.
§ Mr. WoodburnI understand that this family were recently asked to leave their sublet accommodation by the principal tenant. Mr. Irvine applied in 1946 for a new house but the town council, in whose hands the matter lies, have decided that they cannot give him preference over prior applicants. Since 1945 Barrhead have completed 60 temporary and 87 permanent houses. They now have 207 houses under construction and have been authorised to begin 100 more. There is no point in allocating additional houses until more of those under construction have been completed.
§ 84. Mr. McFarlaneasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total number of new housing units completed from 1st January, 1946, to 31st December, 1948, in Lanarkshire including the burghs but excluding the City of Glasgow; the number now allocated under the current programme; and the comparable figures for the City of Glasgow.
§ Mr. WoodburnDuring the period in question 9,965 new houses, permanent and temporary, were completed in Lanarkshire and 7,816 in Glasgow. The number of houses recently authorised to be begun is 3,004 in Lanarkshire and 4,445 in Glasgow.
§ 85. Mr. W. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered 118W a communication from Kilmarnock Town Council on the rent policy of the Scottish Special Housing Association and what reply he has sent.
§ Mr. WoodburnYes. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the letter sent to the town clerk.
§ 87. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set up a working party to inquire into proposals for speeding up the progress of housing in Scotland.
§ Mr. WoodburnIn February I asked the building and civil engineering industry Joint Advisory Panel for Scotland to consider and recommend what steps might be taken to expedite housing progress in Scotland and I understand that the Panel expect to supply an early report.
88. Major Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the resolution, a copy of which has been sent him, passed on 15th June, at the Annual Conference of the British Legion, Scotland, calling attention to the grave housing shortage in Scotland, and pressing for immediate action; and what steps he proposes to take to make the building of houses in Scotland a top priority and tackle the problem as a military operation.
§ Mr. WoodburnI have seen the resolution to which the hon. Gentleman refers and have replied to the British Legion. As the hon. Gentleman will realise the top priority in Scotland is to ensure the food supply of the nation.
§ 89. Mr. Carmichaelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made for the provision of home accommodation for the aged people by the local authorities in Scotland.
§ Mr. WoodburnSince the beginning of 1948 three new homes for this purpose have been opened, with a total of 82 places-17 large houses have been acquired and are being adapted to provide about 400 places and negotiations are in progress for the purchase of five more houses.