HC Deb 21 February 1918 vol 103 cc947-8W
Mr. ANDERSON

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will give a summary of the replies of the Metropolitan borough councils to his circular letter of 28th July, 1917, as to their views and intentions in respect of housing and town-planning; and whether he has sought or received the views and intentions of the London County Council on London housing and town-planning?

Mr FISHER

I doubt whether any useful purpose would be served by publishing a summary of the replies received from the Metropolitan borough councils in reply to the Circular letter of 28th July, 1017. At the time that letter was issued the Board asked for the views and assistance of the London County Council on the housing question from the point of view of London as a whole, and copies of the replies so far as received from the Metropolitan borough councils have been sent by the Board to the London County Council.

Mr. PONSONBY

asked the Secretary for Scotland why the town-planning scheme for Rosyth area which was submitted by the Dunfermline Towa Council to the Scottish Local Government Board in August, 1915, has not yet been approved; and what is the reason for the prolonged delay, which is seriously interfering with the proper development of the district?

Mr. MUNRO

A copy of the scheme as amended by the Board after very full and careful consideration is now in the hands of the town council. Owing to the many important alterations which the Board have found it necessary to make, final approval of the scheme is necessarily delayed until the views of the town council have been obtained and considered and the parties interested have been consulted. As regards the second part of the question, I stated the reasons for delay in the Debate on the Vote on Account on 8th March last, to which I would beg to refer my hon. Friend. One of the reasons was the depleted staff of the Local Government Board for Scotland. I am glad to say that provision is being made in the Estimates for the coming financial year for increasing the Housing Department of the Board.