Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will set up a departmental or other committee to investigate the possibility of reconditioning suitable houses in Scotland to assist the slum-clearance and overcrowding problem?
§ Mr. ColvilleHaving in view the full inquiry made by the Departmental Committee on Housing presided over by Sir Thomas Whitson which reported in 1933, I do not think that the appointment of another Departmental Committee is necessary.
Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Glasgow Corporation have availed themselves of the offer of the Special Areas Housing Association to build 1,700 houses?
§ Mr. ColvilleI am informed that the offer is still under consideration by the 2193W housing committee of the corporation, who will probably reach a decision this month.
§ Mr. Erskine Hillasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the strong desire of many workers in the principal cities of Scotland to find suitable housing accommodation near the centres of cities, where they have been accustomed to live; and whether he will consider taking any further steps to encourage the reconditioning of city houses in Scotland?
§ Mr. ColvilleI would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply which I gave on the 8th July to a question on this subject by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Kirkcaldy Burghs (Mr. Kennedy).
Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that over 330,000 working-class houses for letting purposes have been built by private enterprise in England and Wales since 1st January, 1934, whereas the comparable figure for Scotland is, approximately, 8,500; that on a population basis these figures show a grave disparity; and whether, in view of these facts, he will set up immediately a Departmental or other committee of inquiry to investigate the causes that have prevented private enterprise in Scotland building more working-class houses for letting purposes?
§ Mr. ColvilleI am aware of the disparity between the numbers of houses built by private enterprise in England and Scotland respectively, but I am not satisfied that in present circumstances I would be justified in setting up a committee of inquiry such as my hon. Friend suggests.
Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons, to date, in the Rutherglen Division have been rehoused under the slum-clearance and overcrowding programme; and the number still waiting to be rehoused?
§ Mr. ColvilleI am informed that the number of persons who have been rehoused to date is 11,600. Although no accurate figures are available it is estimated that the number of persons still waiting to be rehoused is approximately 28,000.