§ Mr. Oswaldasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he is aware that tenants had to be evacuated from property in the Grassmarket last week because of a partial collapse of the interior; and whether he will request a full report from the Corporation of the City of Edinburgh as to the extent of dangerous and derelict properties within the boundaries of the Edinburgh, Central constituency;
(2) if he is aware that a further tenement building in Dalrymple Place has had to be evacuated in the City of Edinburgh because of the danger of collapse; and what further consultations he has had with the corporation regarding demolition of unsafe properties;
(3) if he is aware that three separate incidents of collapse and near collapse of tenement properties in the City of Edinburgh are causing alarm amongst the citizens; and whether he will institute an inquiry as to the dates when such property was condemned as unfit for human habitation.
§ Mr. MaclayI am aware of the incidents to which the hon. Member refers and of the action taken by the Corporation to deal with them. As I have already explained to him, I am satisfied that the Corporation is fully alive to its responsibilities as regards both dangerous buildings and slum clearance generally. I see no reason for special intervention on my part in the ways suggested by the hon. Member, but I am writing more fully to him on the matter.