§ 53. Major Anstruther-Grayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to provide sites for new houses by demolition of old properties rather than by taking good agricultural land; and whether he will compensate such authorities for the additional cost so incurred.
§ Mr. J. StuartLocal authorities have been regularly advised to avoid, where possible, the use of good agricultural land as housing sites, and the use of cleared areas has obvious advantages where progress with new building justifies the demolition of existing dwellings. Exchequer assistance is already available for clearance and redevelopment work under the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1950, and under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, 1947.