asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the fact that 2,800 families are listed for houses in the Burgh of Ayr, what plans he proposes to help the local authority to meet this need.

At 21st April there were 146 houses under construction in the burgh for the town council and 176 for the Scottish Special Housing Association, making a total of 322. In addition, tenders approved for houses and not yet begun totalled 172. Two hundred and fifty additional houses were allocated to the council and to the Association last month for erection in the burgh. The building of all these houses will ensure that the local labour force is fully engaged for some time to come.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that his Minister is not even keeping pace with the demand, which has increased by 800 since 1945; and therefore will his Department put more energy and drive into solving this tragic problem—at least more than his predecessor?

I do not know what the hon. and gallant Gentleman wants. He is asking us to put more drive into this matter. Is he asking for the allocation of more houses or for the direction of labour? We are not quite clear.

More houses and more labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has now taken to approve licences and furnish labour and material to the Ayrshire County Council to enable them to provide houses for the tenants of the unsatisfactory hutted accommodation at present in use at Adamton-Tarbolton and other districts in the neighbourhood of Ayr.

My hon. Friend recently allocated a total of 724 houses to Ayrshire County Council. In selecting tenants the county council will doubtless bear in mind the needs of these families.

Does not that answer show a complete sense of unreality; does the hon. Gentleman not realise that the failure of the Government to house the people of Scotland will be the biggest issue at the next General Election; and will he therefore get on with the job more effectively?