§ Sir W. Darlingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that at Crossridge, Lanarkshire, there is a vacant 84W house of three rooms, kitchen and bathroom, built two years ago by Lanarkshire County Council; why this house is not made available for tenancy; and how many such new houses there are in Scotland, built from public funds, awaiting occupation.
§ Mr. Buchanan:The house in question was provided by the county council under the Housing (Agricultural Population) (Scotland) Act, 1938, as part of a wartime scheme of houses in selected areas specially authorised in the interests of agricultural production. It has remained unoccupied because of a breakdown in the water supply arrangements originally contemplated. The county council have been asked to consider the provision of a proper supply. As the matter is somewhat complicated I am writing to the hon. Member fully on it. The circumstances in this case are quite exceptional and I am not aware that a similar difficulty has arisen elsewhere.