asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether he has any information as to the difference in cost and construction between the housing scheme built by the method of direct labour under and by the Glasgow Town Council and the housing schemes built and completed by private enterprise under contract to the aforementioned town council?

The estimated average difference in cost per house as between the direct labour scheme and a private contract scheme entered upon at approximately the same date is brought out at £42 in favour of the former, but the actual difference cannot be ascertained until the contracts have been completed. As the two schemes were tendered for on a different basis, it does not follow that the above difference will be actually realised. The construction is similar in both schemes.

Would the hon. and gallant Gentleman be prepared to take steps to have that obnoxious Clause in the Housing Bill altered so that an authority might proceed directly to erect houses?

I have been struck by these figures and will look into them.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that building by direct labour is always more substantial than that which is done by contract?

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health if he is aware that very large numbers of Glasgow tenants are being brought before the ejection Court there weekly; that decrees are being granted in many cases, while others are continued on the understanding that the tenants make certain payments towards the arrears; that in nearly every case the persons sued have been unemployed for long periods and are in destitute circumstances, and consequently unable to pay from their meagre incomes current rent, much less arrears; and will he consider what steps can be taken to avert wholesale evictions?

With regard to the first part of the question, I am aware that a considerable number of applications for summary removing are being made in the Glasgow Sheriff Court. As regards the remaining parts of the question, I understand that in cases where the tenants are unemployed decrees are not granted if the rent is not more than nine months in arrear or if destitution is proved. I am satisfied that the utmost discretion is being exercised both in granting and in putting into force decrees of evction for non-payment of rent.

Is the hon. and learned Member aware that nine months' exemption is merely the period that is supposed to be covered by the recent Bryde v. Kerr case? May I take it from the reply that the proving of destitution in itself by an unemployed man will be sufficient to protect him against an ejectment warrant being granted?

Decrees are granted only in cases where it is clearly put forward that the tenant is in a position to make some payment, or in cases where decrees in absentia are given and where the tenant has made no objection to that course.

Is the hon and learned Gentleman aware that decrees have been granted against people who were destitute, and that they have been evicted from their homes despite their destitution? In view of the Bill now before the House that problem will become aggravated. What steps does the hon. and learned Gentleman propose to take afterwards?

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health if he can state the names of the various Scottish bodies, associations or committees from whom representations have been received by the Scottish Office or the Scottish Board of Health in favour of a separate Housing Bill for Scotland?

A copy of a resolution of the nature mentioned was submitted to the Secretary for Scotland by a committee of the Convention of Royal Burghs. Apart from this, no representations on the subject by Scottish bodies have been received by the Scottish Office or the Scottish Board of Health.

Has the hon. and gallant. Gentleman not received representations from the special committee appointed to advise the Scottish Office on the housing question and in regard to separate treatment for Scotland?

Is it not the case that the largest corporation in Scotland, that of Glasgow, asked the Scottish Office to give a separate Bill?

I have notice only of representations which have been received by the Scottish Office or the Scottish Board of Health, and we have not received these representations either at the Scottish Office or at the Scottish Board of Health.

Has the hon. and gallant Gentleman had no representation from the conference which met at Dundee on the 24th?

No, Sir.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware that these representations have been made, whether they have reached the Scottish Office or not?

Yes, but there is a difference between representations addressed, as the question puts it, specifically to the Scottish Office, and representations addressed to individual Members.

May we take it, then, that the representation addressed to the hon. and gallant Gentleman as Under-Secretary for Scotland is not a valid representation and that of it no notice is taken?

I have no such office, and, consequently, no such representation could be made, but in general the hon. and gallant Gentleman, who has held office himself, must be aware that representations to a Department are made officially to the Department.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health if he can state the total number of houses allocated to Scotland under the Housing and Town Planning, etc. (Scotland), Act, 1919, and schemes approved thereunder, in respect of which the liability of local authorities as regards the deficit arising was restricted to four-fifths of a penny rate; the number of houses still to be provided under the 1919 Act; the total amount of the liability undertaken by the State in connection with the provision of the houses allocated to Scotland under the 1919 Act; the amount which represents the outstanding liability of the State as regards the houses not yet provided in Scotland under that Act; and the proportion which the total amount of the liability undertaken by the State for Scotland bears to that undertaken by the State for England and Wales?

The number of houses allocated to local authorities and public utility societies in Scotland under the Housing, Town Planning, etc. (Scotland), Act, 1919, is 25,550. While the Board's approval to schemes under that Act extended to a larger number of houses than 25,550, such approval under the Act and relative Regulations was, for subsidy purposes, limited to the number of houses that were completed before the end of the subsidy period, namely, August, 1922, which, however, was subsequently extended by two years in order to enable local authorities to complete houses for which tenders had been approved. Up to date about 16,600 houses have been completed and 8,950 are in course of construction or are not yet contracted for. In the circumstances it is not at present possible to state what the amount of the State liability will be, but it is estimated that it will not be less than £1,000,000 per annum. I understand that information regarding the liability of the State in respect of the provision of houses in England and Wales is being furnished to the hon. and learned Member in reply to his question addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.

Will the hon. and gallant Member reply to the last part of the question, as to the proportion of State liability for Scotland compared with that for England and Wales?

asked the Minister of Health whether, in order to enable Members of this House to fully appreciate the size and amenities of a house containing from 650 to 750 superficial feet, he will endeavour to arrange for the erection within or adjoining the precincts of this House of a temporary building containing a scullery, living room, parlour, bath room, and three bedrooms, and for such rooms to be furnished in a simple but suitable manner?

My right hon. Friend would refer the hon. Member to his reply to a similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Sir T. Bennett) on the 26th ult.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of houses allocated to England and Wales under the Housing, Town Planning, Etc., Act, 1919, and schemes approved thereunder; the total number of houses provided in England and Wales and the number still to be provided under the 1919 Act; and the total liability undertaken by the State in connection with the houses provided and yet to be provided, respectively?

The State-assisted housing schemes of local authorities and public utility societies in England and Wales were limited to 176,000 houses, of which 159,000 had been completed on the 1st April last, and 16,998 were either in course of construction or had not been commenced. It is estimated that the total Exchequer charge in respect of the 176,000 houses in England and Wales will amount aproximately to £8,750,000 per annum in the early years. It is hoped that a reduction will be secured on this charge in later years as loans are reborrowed at, lower rates of interest. The houses not yet completed are in the majority of cases included in larger contracts and it is not practicable to make a separate estimate of their cost.

(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Health whether, before moving the Report stage of the Housing (Money) Resolution, he can see his way to receiving a deputation of the Rural Housing and Sanitary Association and other representatives of rural interests?

There will not be time to receive this deputation before the Report stage of the Housing (Money) Resolution, which my right hon. Friend is afraid cannot be postponed. He will, however, he happy to see representatives of the association at a very early date.

But does not the Noble Lord realise that once the Report stage of this Resolution is taken the question is settled. Why, therefore, could not the Minister arrange to-day or to-morrow morning to see the authorised spokesman of this deputation?

I am afraid the engagements of my right hon. Friend will not permit him to do that.