THE EARL OF MANSFIELDasked His Majesty's Government: (1) whether they are aware that many of the Admiralty employees at Almondbank, Perthshire, are living in conditions of overcrowding and discomfort, which equally affect the local population, owing to the introduction of so many workers from outside into an area where he shortage of houses was already severe: and if they will state what steps they propose to take to remedy this position; and, (2) whether they will state why, in view of the acute housing shortage at Almondbank, Perthshire, mainly caused by the presence of large numbers of Admiralty workers brought in from outwith the county they refuse to permit Perth County Council to build there the 32 new houses for which the site has been chosen, and all plans prepared, for a long time past.
§ LORD MORRISONOf the 1,102 men and women employed at present it the R.N. Store Depot at Almondbank, 973 were recruited locally and only 120 from other parts of the country. Of these, 13 171WA occupy houses, 22 rent parts of houses and the remainder live in lodgings or in an Admiralty hostel. The amount of housing work that Perth County Council have on hand at present is sufficient to absorb all the available labour and materials, and to start a new scheme at 172WA Almondbank would only delay the completion of other schemes. Arrangements have been made, however, for Perth Town Council to allocate 50 houses or flats specially to Admiralty employees.
House adjourned at twenty minutes before seven o'clock.