asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his attention has been drawn to the achievement of Professor Vladimir Zobolofsky, President of the Ukrainian Academy of Architecture, in the manufacture of china building bricks whereby 96,000 houses had been built in one year; and if he will consider similar plans to secure the same achievement for Scotland.

On the information presently before me I am satisfied that this method of building is not one which could be adopted in Scotland, but perhaps the hon. Member would let me have any further details in his possession.

Is the Under-Secrctary of State aware that in an official document from the Russian Embassy delivered to me at this House particulars were given of this great Soviet achievement?

So far as we have examined it, we are not satisfied that this method is suitable for Scotland, but if the hon. Member has any further information I will be pleased to examine it.

Will the Minister assure us that he will take full cognisance of all the political associations of the hon. Member for South Edinburgh (Sir W. Darling)?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses have been completed in Glasgow since 1st June, 1945; and how many have been started.

Since 1st June, 1945, 239 permanent and 67 temporary houses have been completed. The numbers now under construction are 647 permanent and 164 temporary. Those started since 1st June, including some houses which have been completed, number 351 permanent and 212 temporary.

May I ask the Minister whether the houses he designates as completed are in fact occupied?

"Completed" means that so far as temporary houses are concerned we have completed our work and handed them over to the local authority. With regard to permanent houses, I anticipate that they will all be occupied.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of houses in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright reconditioned under the Rural Housing Acts.

At 30th June, 1945, the latest date for which figures are available, 1,025 houses had been reconditioned under these Acts in the Stewartry.

Is the Minister not now impressed by the fact that the deleterious effect of the Government of which he is a distinguished Member is bound to have effect in discontinuing rural housing in the Stewartry?

It all depends upon the angle from which you look at this; for instance, if you found out that 119 were reconditioned by owner-occupiers, the total grant being £10,430, and 906 by the landlords, who were getting £84,000, that might alter the hon. Member's view.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the number of serviced sites for temporary houses in the Burgh of Motherwell and Wishaw; the number of temporary houses supplied to date; and the estimated rate of future delivery.

There are serviced sites for 206 temporary houses in the Burgh; 56 temporary houses are under construction and 43 additional houses have been delivered to the site. For the sites already serviced, it is estimated that deliveries will be made at the rate of 20 houses per week.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the employment of large numbers of workmen on the sub-dividing of large private houses is preventing the corporation of Edinburgh from completing the work on municipal housing schemes; if he is satisfied with the way in which licences are granted in Edinburgh for private building; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that licences continue to be freely given in Edinburgh for houses for sale and for garages, whilst labour is unavailable for the purpose of building houses to let; and will he take steps to remedy this position.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that large derequisitioned houses in Edinburgh are being sold and sub-divided into flats for sale at speculative prices; that plenty of labour is available for this work whilst labour cannot be obtained to erect corporation houses; and will he take steps to ensure that the Government's policy for houses to let is implemented.

I am informed that licences for the sub-division of 53 large houses and for the provision of five garages in Edinburgh have been granted by the corporation and that work has not yet been begun on about 400 new-houses for which tenders have been approved. I have accordingly at once asked the corporation to consider the suspension or reduction of the licensing of works of sub-division until better progress has been achieved with their own housing schemes.

Is the Minister aware that there are 146 houses at present under construction which are being held up because of the lack of plasterers?

:As the hon. Member has heard from my answer, I have asked Edinburgh to reconsider this matter with a view to seeing if some of the labour cannot get on with the housing scheme.

Is the Minister aware that sub-divided houses are being made to sell at prices between £2,000 and £3,000, and that this seems to be directly against the aim of the Government, which is to obtain houses at a cost of £1,200 and produce houses for less?

Will the Minister take steps to implement the last part of my Question; will he take steps to remedy this?

The position is that Edinburgh Corporation, which is the licensing authority at the present time, has been written to asking it to reconsider the matter. We had better await Edinburgh's reply before we can consider what further action we can take.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, in the winter season particularly, in Scotland he will get more housing accommodation made available by the sub-division of existing houses than the erection of new houses, and will the Minister further that policy?

I will only say that. I think that good progress has been made in Scotland, in certain parts, particularly in permanent housing, and I hope that Edinburgh will not lag in that particular matter.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter again.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the latest available figures of the total number of dwelling houses made available by requisitioning in Edinburgh and Glasgow, respectively.

Up to 30th November, 34 houses had been requisitioned in Edinburgh for conversion into 55 separate dwellings. The corresponding figures for Glasgow are 198 and 575 respectively.

Will my hon. Friend examine the situation as revealed by these figures, and take all possible steps to ensure that the Edinburgh Corporation uses its vast powers of requisitioning to provide houses for the people instead of providing them for speculative builders?

My hon. Friend can take it that as far as we at the Scottish Office are concerned, every encouragement is being given to Edinburgh to requisition for the purpose of private dwelling houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on how -many permanent houses has building construction actually been commenced in Renfrewshire, Ayrshire and Dumbartonshire, respectively, since 1st August last.

The numbers of permanent houses begun since 1st August in the. Landward and Burghal areas of Renfrewshire, Ayrshire and Dumbartonshire are 158, 148 and 79 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the raising of the school-leaving age to 15 years, he is prepared to give partly-built schools equal priority for completion with the first large-scale housing schemes; to ensure that any prefabricated huts required to accommodate the additional school population shall be specially designed for educational purposes; and to replace these huts within a stated period of time by permanent buildings.

Until the provision of houses more closely approximates to the demand I cannot see my way to give equal priority to the completion of school buildings, but I shall do my best to facilitate their completion as far as the supply of labour and materials permits. It is impossible to provide the accommodation required for the raising of the school leaving age on 1st April, 1947, without using prefabricated huts now available, as specially designed huts could not be planned and constructed in the time. It is intended to replace the prefabricated huts as soon as labour and materials are available for permanent building, but I am unable at present to say when this will be.

So far as sites, structure, layout and furnishings of these temporary buildings are concerned, will they conform to the very best trends in modern educational requirements?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the amount of the extra supplementation of grant payable to the Burgh of Motherwell and Wishaw under the new formula; the amount which would have been payable under the formula used in calculating the block grant; the amount payable to the city of Edinburgh under the new formula; and the amount which would have been payable under the old formula.

As the answer involves a number of figures, I propose, with my hon. Friend's permission, to circulate it in the Official Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the pre-war offer by the Department of Agriculture to the Ross-shire County Council of a 75 per cent. grant towards construction of the proposed pier at Portnaguran, Isle of Lewis, is now available, or will be renewed at the earliest date, in view of the importance of this project to the restoration of the island's fishing industry.

The prewar offer was for a grant of 75 per cent of the cost of the construction of a harbour at Portnaguran subject to a maximum of £10,500. As a similar harbour now would cost: a very much larger sum a renewal of the former offer would not meet. the case. The possibility of revising the plan with a view to reducing costs is being examined.

Do I understand from the Under-Secretary that the offer of the previous Tory Government is far more generous than that of the present Government?

I said that it will be understood that a 75 percent. grant of the former cost will not now meet the case.

Because it was too much?

No, not enough.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the hardship endured by crofters in the Outer Hebrides and by their wives because of the increasingly long distances over which they have to carry their peat fuel on their backs, because of the exhaustion of the nearer peat banks; and if the Department of Agriculture will take steps to have the peat roads extended and widened for the motor transport of peat.

I appreciate that as nearer peat banks become exhausted it is more arduous for crofters to transport their peat supply. So far as estates owned by the State are concerned, assistance has been given towards the construction of peat roads in a number of cases, and any further applications for this purpose will have sympathetic consideration. My right hon. Friend has now power, however, to assist in extending and widening peat roads on private estates.

In view of the fact that no particular authority seems to have any funds at its disposal for this purpose, will the Under-Secretary undertake to consult the Ministries to see whether any powers can be acquired?

I will undertake to inquire of the other Ministries, but some of these roads are on private estates, and I am not so sure we have power to intervene there.

Is it not very simple for the Minister to requisition private estates?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether special consultations on specifically Hebridean questions have taken place between him and the Minister of War Transport in recent weeks; and if they have developed a co-ordinated scheme of road construction work embracing roads serving Department of Agriculture estates, as well as county highways, in view of the need of improved transport for all island developments.

My right hon. Friend has had no special consultations with the Minister of War Transport on specifically Hebridean questions in recent weeks, but the two Departments are in frequent touch on these matters. The planning and construction of public roads other than trunk roads, however, is a matter for the county councils.

In view of the complete failure of the Tory county councils in Inverness-shire in the past to undertake their obligations, will some action be taken by the Department acting jointly with the other Departments?

It may be that some action will be taken by the electors in this particular area today.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the fact that many of the statistical demands of his department on the education authorities relating, particularly, to the schools, were modified during the war, he will see that no return is made to the pre-war practice, but will ensure that the statistical requirements of his department are kept at a minimum, so far as schools are concerned.

My right hon. Friend has always sought to avoid asking for any statistical returns not essential for purposes of administration. The important educational developments which will take place in the coming years make it more than ever necessary to have full and accurate information on matters relating to the schools. I fear, therefore, that it is not possible to give an undertaking that none of the statistical returns with which it has been possible to dispense under war conditions will be reintroduced. I will see, however, that the point made by my hon. Friend with which I am in complete sympathy, is borne in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many fishing vessels were, during the last three months, diverted from the port of Aberdeen and with what tonnage of fish; why these diversions occurred; and what steps he is taking to prevent loss of this kind the city of Aberdeen in future.

During the past three months 29,300 tons of fish were landed at Aberdeen as compared with 21,950 tons in the corresponding period in 1938. No diversion of fishing vessels from Aberdeen to other landing ports has been instructed. I am informed that during the past three months not more than 12 vessels, with a total catch of 633 tons, representing about 2 per cent of the total landings, proceeded to other British ports to land their catches because the persons in charge of the vessels considered that they could be unloaded sooner at these other ports. The Regional Port Director for Scotland has recently inquired into the facilities for handling catches at Aberdeen, and his report, in which recommendations are made with regard to labour and other facilities, has been accepted by the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what delays have occurred during the last month in discharging fish arriving in the port of Aberdeen; how many vessels and what quantity of fish were involved; how much fish was thereby wasted; and what were the causes of these delays and wastages, respectively.

I am informed that on eight days in November, when very heavy catches were brought in, out of I70 vessels with an aggregate catch of 4,500 tons, a total of 28 vessels, with an aggregate catch of 8I6 tons, were unable owing to the high level of landings to discharge for the first sale after arrival. I understand that all these vessels were discharged in time for the following day's sale, and that no waste of fish was involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what average quantity of fish was, during the last month, landed daily at Aberdeen Harbour; and whether he is satisfied that adequate gear and other facilities are avail able there to discharge promptly all the fish as it arrives in harbour.

The average quantity of fish landed at Aberdeen daily during November was 350 tons, as compared with 240 tons in November, 1938. As I have already stated, recommendations made by the Regional Port Director for Scotland with regard to the facilities available have recently been accepted by the industry.

Would the Under-Secretary answer the part of the Question dealing with gear, and state whether he is satisfied that adequate gear and other facilities are available to discharge fish as it arrives in harbour?

I think that point is covered in the report to which I have just referred.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the discontent in the North-East of Scotland over the unusual method of appointment to the office of county clerk adopted by the Sutherland County Council; and will he take steps to ensure that future appointments are made on merits after open competition.

The appointment of a county clerk is under statute a matter for the county council, and my right hon. Friend has no jurisdiction in regard to it. I understand, however, that the appointment referred to was made by the county council in the normal way at a meeting held after the vacancy had been publicly advertised and applications invited for the post.

Is my hon. Friend aware that in the advertisement to which he referred there was no mention whatever of any previous qualification for so important and specialised an appointment, and that the person appointed was entirely devoid of any previous experience? Can he suggest no remedy to this sort of thing?

I am afraid that is a matter for the local authority and, of course, the matter is in the hands of the local electors.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the national importance of the matters dealt with and the valuable suggestions contained in the Report of the Scottish Youth Advisory Committee on the News of Youth in these Times, published by his predecessor on 11th May, 1945, at Is. 6d., he will consider, in consultation with the Minister of Education, jointly publishing copies of such Report either free or at a lower price, and their circulation free of charge to all statutory and voluntary bodies interested.

Copies of this report have already been issued free of charge to all education authorities and national youth organisations in Scotland. The question whether a similar free issue should be made in England and Wales, is primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education. The report has already been put on sale by the Stationery Office in England and Wales as well as in Scotland.

Will the Under-Secretary take steps to make this valuable publication into a Parliamentary Paper?

I will have that suggestion looked into.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of his circular letter dated 27th October, 1945, to local authorities intimating postponement until 31st March, 1946, of the date for receiving applications for grants under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Act, 1944, he will consider and approve or disapprove each scheme as soon as possible after it is submitted and will give an undertaking that all schemes so approved will receive a grant under the Act.

My right hon. Friend is prepared to consider water schemes as they come in from the local authorities, but until he can see the complete picture as reflected in the proposals of local authorities as a whole he is, I am afraid, not in a position to determine the rate of grant for each approved scheme.

:Does the hon. Gentleman realise that this will seriously postpone putting into effect a number of schemes unless local authorities have some idea of the extent to which the Treasury will contribute?

We take the view that we cannot make a grant in respect of one scheme and give different treatment in the case of another one which may come along a month later. We take the view that we should treat the matter as a whole, and local authorities will not be unduly hampered because they will all be equitably treated.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made by his Department with school feeding arrangements in North-east Scotland.

In the area comprising Aberdeen, Dundee, Aberdeen County, Angus, Banff, Kincardine, Moray and Nairn, the percentage of children receiving dinners was 6.7 in May, 1942, 12.9 in June, 1943, and 18.8 in June, 1945. So far, schemes have been approved for the construction of facilities which will enable dinners to be provided for 55 per cent. of the children on the roll in this area.

Will the Under-Secretary of State tell us when it will be possible greatly to increase the numbers at present receiving school dinners?

I cannot say when, but education authorities in Scotland have been urged to make provision for school meals up to 75 per cent. of their school population as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary for Scotland how many radiography units there are in Scotland; to what extent they are used; and if more of these units are to be installed in the near future.

Two units, belonging to Glasgow Corporation and Lanark County Council respectively, are now in operation in Scotland. A third unit will, it is hoped, begin to operate shortly in Edinburgh. 40,610 persons have so far been examined by the Glasgow and Lanark County units. When more apparatus can be manufactured and when more medical and other personnel are available the allocation of units to other local authorities will be considered.

Is my hon. Friend taking steps to see that this is speeded up at the earliest possible moment?

We are now making every effort to see if we can increase this apparatus for other well deserving authorities.

In view of the manifest prejudice on the part of the School of Radiology at Edinburgh University against medical graduates of Glasgow University, will the Under-Secretary seek to establish a school of radiology and radiography in Glasgow?

I am sorry, but that question does not arise, and it is much too difficult for me to answer on the spur of the moment.

Will my hon. Friend assure us that when he gets the staff, particularly the radiographers, he will give them salaries and conditions such as obtain in England so that Scotland will not lose these girls to English authorities?

My hon. Friend can take it that if it is a question of taking up the matter of salaries and emoluments in Scotland, I will not be lacking.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the number of N.F.S. personnel still engaged in duties in Scotland.

At 30th November, 1945, there were 3,153 men and 580 women employed whole-time in the National Fire Service in Scotland.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the grievance is not that they arc engaged in duties, but the vast majority of the N.F.S. are grousing because they have nothing on earth to do, and they cannot get out?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will circularise education committees in Scotland, reminding them of the powers they possess under Subsection (3) of Section 3 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1945, whereby they are permitted to make provision for physical training kits, including football outfits; and urge them to take advantage of this provision in the Act.

Education authorities have already been reminded of this power to provide articles of clothing suitable for physical exercise. The present supply position would make it difficult to meet any extensive demand from education authorities, but I hope that when it im- proves they will take the fullest advantage of this new power.

Will the Joint Undersecretary of State take into account that a great deal of what is described as juvenile delinquency is due to the fact that recreational facilities do not exist and that, consequently, to provide recreational facilities would reduce this so-called juvenile delinquency?

I accept entirely the observations of my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to take any steps to prevent the loss to Scotland of the technique of flax growing and processing acquired during the war.

I have been in close consultation on this matter with the Ministers concerned and with the Scottish Council on Industry. The responsibility for flax production rests with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, who informs me that the production of flax is being concentrated in areas where it can be most economically produced. Unfortunately, costs of flax produced in Scotland have been higher than the average for Great Britain, and despite intensive efforts no tenant has been found willing to take over on lease any of the three Scottish factories.

Is it not regrettable that three flax-fibre producing factories in Scotland are to be closed down? Is not the Minister aware that there is no mystery about growing flax and that the vagaries of the weather are of no greater account in Scotland in regard to flax growing than they are in any other country?

I am afraid, whether it is because of the vagaries of the weather or not, flax production in Scotland has not been so successful as flax production in England.

Or in Northern Ireland.