§ Colonel Gomme-Duncanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet in a position to make a statement on the outcome of his negotiations with the local authority associations and the building societies associations about a scheme for reducing the initial deposit made by persons purchasing their own houses in Scotland.
§ Mr. J. StuartYes. Discussions with the building societies associations and the local authority associations have been completed and I am sending a circular to local authorities today describing complementary schemes of guarantee which have been worked out with the building societies associations. These schemes offer the same percentage advances for the same value of dwellings as were announced recently for England and Wales. I am anxious that the fullest possible use should be made of these schemes. I have therefore commended the schemes to the local authorities and have also asked them to exercise their powers to advance money for the purchase or building of new houses and for the conversion, improvement or repair of existing ones.