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Housing, Prestwick

Volume 476: debated on Tuesday 20 June 1950

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21.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the fact that the Burgh of Prestwick is short of 650 houses to meet the needs of the homeless, what plans he proposes to enable the town council to overcome the shortage.

I understand that the building industry in this area is already fully engaged, but I shall be glad to consider any proposals from the council or the hon. and gallant Member to increase production.

But the Joint Under-Secretary knows very well that the council themselves have put forward suggestions for the last five years. Will he tell us the cause of this tragic position of housing in Prestwick and Scotland generally? Is it because Scotland is not getting its fair share of materials, or what is the reason?

The hon. and gallant Member will know that at Prestwick they have 28 houses under construction, and that 76 additional houses have been allocated but not yet begun. The only sort of representation that the hon. and gallant Member has made up to now is to allocate more houses, or to allow more houses to be built on private account. In addition to these houses, they also have about 20 houses being built on private account.

Can we be told, in the light of these figures, how long it will take Prestwick to get the 650 houses promised?

In view of the reply, does the Joint Under-Secretary admit that the local authority has failed as the chosen instrument for house building?

The hon. and gallant Member is asking me to assist the chosen instrument to build more houses, and I am wondering why they have not built more houses out of their allocation.