§ Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how the number of shops or branches of shops per thousand head of population in East Kilbride compares with Glasgow, Edinburgh, Paisley, Hamilton and Lanark.
§ Mr. J. StuartThe figures for which the hon. Member has asked are:
Town Shops Population Shops per 1,000 population served East Kilbride 53 8,000 6.6 Glasgow 13,542 1,089,555 12.4 Edinburgh 6,409 466,770 13.7 Paisley 1,087 93,704 11.6 Hamilton 471 40,173 11.7 Lanark 135 6,219 21.7
§ Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many shops have been let by the East Kilbride Development Corporation; how many are let now; and if he will state the average rental and occupier's rate charge per shop.
136W
§ Mr. J. StuartThirteen shops have been built and let by the East Kilbride Development Corporation; there are none to let at present but the Corporation expect to build six more shops for letting this year. As regards the last part of the Question, it would not be in the public interest to require the corporation to furnish information about rents except in so far as that information is already available in the valuation roll.
§ Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when he expects that butchers and grocers and other tradesmen catering chiefly for the housewife will be given an opportunity to open shop in each of the neighbourhood units of East Kilbride;
(2) when he expects that hairdressers and other tradesmen catering particularly for women's needs will be given an opportunity to open shop in the several neighbourhood units such as Westwood and Murray in East Kilbride.
§ Mr. J. StuartShops providing these facilities are already available in the old and new districts of East Kilbride. Additional facilities will be provided as and when the population increases sufficiently to support them.
§ Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many dwellings have been let by the East Kilbride Development Corporation; and how many Corporation tenants earn the chief part of their living within the designated area of the new town.
§ Mr. J. Stuart1,555 dwellings and 1,464 tenants respectively.
§ Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how far the -anticipated industrial and commercial demands for labour at East Kilbride, for which housing must be provided in the new town, increased between June, 1953, and February, 1954; and how many extra workers are demanded as a result.
§ Mr. J. StuartIt is expected that employment will be provided for 825 workers by new projects coming forward in the period in question and to mature in 1955 and at later dates. It is not yet clear what proportion of these workers will require new housing accommodation.