§ Sir W. Darlingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland which local authorities are operating the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act; how many houses have been bought in each place in 1945, 1946, 1947 and 1948; what is the total amount advanced; and at what rates of interest.
§ Mr. WoodburnThe following table shows the local authorities which made advances under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts and the number of dwellings covered by such advances in each of the years 1946 to 1948. The total amount advanced was £924,936. No advances were made in 1945.
Local Authority 1946 Number of Dwellings 1947 Number of Dwellings 1948 Number of Dwellings Counties— Kirkcudbright — 1 — Midlothian — — — Ross and Cromarty — — 1 Roxburgh 1 — — Burghs— Airdrie — 31 — Dumbarton — — 1 Edinburgh — 8 57 Galashiels — — 1 Kirkcaldy 3 — 2 The rate of interest varies with the period of loan and the rate at which local authorities can themselves borrow for housing purposes. The present rates are—
Loans for not more than 5 years 2¼ per cent. Loans for more than 5 years but not more than 10 years 2¾ per cent. Loans for more than 15 years 3¼ per cent.