§ Mr. LIVINGSTONEasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number 595W and names of the local authorities who have submitted schemes under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act; the number and names of the local authorities in the Highlands who have submitted schemes; and the schemes which have been approved in each case?
§ Sir J. GILM0URAs I informed the hon. Member in ray reply on the 1st instant, the number of local authorities on whose behalf draft schemes have been submitted to the Scottish Board of Health is 11. They are as follow:
In Dumfries County, the District Committees of Annan, Dumfries, Lang-holm, Lockerbie and Thornhill Districts;
In Roxburgh County, the District Committees of Hawick, Jedburgh, Kelso, Liddesdale and Melrose Districts; and
In Haddington County, the District Committee of the Western District.
No scheme has yet been submitted by any Highland local authority, and no schemes have yet been approved in Scotland.
§ Mr. LIVINGSTONEasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether houses known as black houses are eligible for assistance under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, provided the local authority takes advantage of the Act and gives its approval?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI would refer the hon. Member to Section 2 (2) (e) of the Act, from which he will observe that no assistance can be given under the Act unless the local authority are satisfied that the dwelling will, after the completion of the works, be in all respects fit for habitation as a dwelling by persons of the working class. I cannot, therefore, undertake to express any opinion as to whether any particular class of house will or will not be eligible for subsidy under the Act, as the Statute leaves it to the discretion of the local authority.