§ Major Thornton-Kemsleyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can make any statement as to the intention of the Government to construct houses for rural workers in Scotland; and with what counties it is expected in that case to make a commencement?
Mr. JohnstonSince the outbreak of war 357 new houses have been built for rural workers with financial assistance under the Housing (Agricultural Population) (Scotland) Act, 1938, and 234 houses are at present under construction. In addition 2,726 houses for rural workers have been reconstructed with financial assistance under the Housing (Rural Workers) (Scotland) Acts. I am at present considering the possibility of a programme of further houses for rural workers in areas in which they are most urgently required in the interests of food production, but the needs of those areas must be considered along with the needs of urban areas, particularly the areas which have suffered heavy bomb damage.