§ 108. Mr. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on Scotland's housing programme.
§ Mr. J. StuartI shall do all I can to expand the Scottish housing programme, but I cannot forecast the rate or scale of the increase.
§ 109. Mr. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will investigate the working of the industrial key workers houses scheme, as its application is causing discontent in some areas.
§ Mr. J. StuartIn general, the scheme is working satisfactorily. I understand, however, that particularly in Kilmarnock, questions have arisen about the choice of tenants for these key workers' houses. This is primarily a matter for the local authority but arrangements have been made whereby differences between them and any particular firm can be considered by the Board of Trade.
§ 111. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses in Scotland were scheduled as slum dwellings or unfit for human habitation at the outbreak of war in 1939; and what are the corresponding figures now.
§ Mr. J. StuartA return by local authorities showed that at the end of 1938, 66,000 unfit houses were still occupied. Later figures are not available and the present position could be ascertained only by a general survey.
§ 116. Mr. Clunieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in reference to housing, to what extent redevelopment and improvement areas are considered apart from normal allocations.
§ Mr. J. StuartIn determining the number of houses which local authorities are to be authorised to build, my Department take account of all relevant factors, including where appropriate the need for accommodation to rehouse families in areas which are to be redeveloped.