§ Sir A. SINCLAIRasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any of the rural housing authorities in Scotland that had not had schemes approved by the Scottish Board of Health under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, on 19th June last have since had such schemes approved; and whether the Government have yet decided how to deal with the rural housing problem in those areas in which the housing authority is unwilling or unable to put this Act into operation?
§ Major ELLIOTSince 19th June last, five of the county local authorities that2826W had not at that date had schemes approved by the Scottish Board of Health under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, have adopted such schemes and obtained the Board's approval thereto. These five local authorities are the Kilmarnock District Committee of Ayrshire, the Aird, Inverness and Badenoch District Committees of Inverness-shire, and the Kinross County Council. As regards the latter part of the question, my right hon. Friend is not aware of any sufficient reason why county local authorities should be unable to put this Act into operation and he has consistently urged this course upon them. Where local authorities are unwilling to operate this Act, other statutory powers for tile improvement of housing conditions are available to them.