§ Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total Exchequer subsidy, in respect of houses for persons employed in agriculture, paid to the county council of the County of Lanark each year since 1951, and the number of houses to which it has applied in each year.
§ Mr. MaclayThe figures are as follows:
Year Number of Houses Total Amount £ s. d. 1950–51 47 1,010 10 0 1951–52 75 1,612 10 0 1952–53 103 3,131 10 0 1953–54 151 5,710 10 0 1954–55 191 7,855 10 0 1955–56 199 8,289 10 0 1956–57 199 8,289 10 0 November, 1957 199 4,144 15 0 NOTE: A claim for additional subsidy is under consideration at present.
§ Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many of the tenants of houses of the Lanark County Council which attract a special subsidy to facilitate the housing of agricultural workers are themselves employed in agriculture;
(2) what steps he is prepared to take to ensure that any local authority drawing a special housing subsidy to facilitate the accommodation of agricultural workers does not apply this subsidy to houses tenanted by persons whose employment is outwith the agricultural industry.
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§ Mr. MaclayThe statutes enact a wide definition of agriculture for purposes of the special subsidy. Moreover, the requirements are met if a number of houses equal to the number attracting the special subsidy are reserved for the agricultural population except in so far as the demand for such housing accommodation in the district can be satisfied without this reservation. A triennial certificate is required from the local authority that the statutory requirements are being observed. Subject to these requirements, the letting of the houses is a matter for the local authority. I have no information on the precise occupations of the individual tenants, and I have no reason to think that any special steps are necessary beyond the normal audit procedures.