§ Major GLYNasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that there are a large number of working men in various industrial centres of Scotland unable to obtain suitable housing accommodation and unable to pay the rent required for the majority of houses recently constructed of the approved Board of Health type; and whether he will consider the possibility of constructing modern up-to-date tenement buildings of reinforced concrete, containing three-room flats, by encouraging speculative builders to submit schemes which will assist to relieve unemployment and provide additional houses?
§ Mr. MUNROWhile the position may be as stated in the firs part of the question, the scarcity of housing in Scotland is being relieved, and will be further relieved when the numerous housing schemes in the industrial centres have been completed. I may remind my hon. and gallant Friend that, in connection with proposals for the clearance of slum areas, the Scottish Board of Health are prepared to assist financially schemes submitted by local authorities for the erection of houses smaller than have hitherto been approved and capable of being let at lower rentals. With regard to the second part of the question, the Government, during the past two years, have been encouraging private enterprise by means of subsidy, and under their scheme it was open to private builders to provide houses in tenements of three storeys.