§ Mr. Mathersasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the resolution passed at a conference of Members of Parliament and local authorities' representatives, held in Glasgow on 30th September, in which proposals were put forward to improve the housing position in Scotland; and whether he has any statement to make as to the attitude of the Government to wards these proposals?
§ Mr. ElliotYes, Sir, so far as the resolution refers to the proposal that the supply and price of materials should be controlled, I would refer the hon. Member to what I said during the Debate on the754W Estimates of the Department of Health on 22nd July last, when I indicated that the solution of the present difficulties lay in my opinion rather in the increase of the existing supply of materials and labour.
With regard to the supply of building labour the recently appointed Joint Consultative Committee of the Building Trades, employers and employed, are now at work on this problem. With regard to housing subsidies the statutory review of existing rates is now due and the Department have asked representatives of local authorities to meet them on the 15th November to discuss this question. On the last point dealt with in the resolution, it is expected that the decrowding operations of local authorities will release fit houses suitable for other needs.