§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the representations which he has received from the construction industry regarding the coming depression in house building; and if he will take steps to alleviate the matter.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownThe construction industry can be affected by a number of factors in addition to the level of the house building programme, and questions concerning its general state are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. It is my concern, however, to see that house building meets the needs of the community. I728W have discussed the housing programme in Scotland with representatives of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, and my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction and I recently met the Joint Advisory Panel for the Building and Civil Engineering Industries in Scotland. I have also had meetings with many local authorities about their housing programmes, and my Department is involved in encouraging a sustained supply of building society funds for prospective house purchasers in Scotland.