asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can indicate the total amount paid to local authorities in housing subsidies, and the total amount paid by local authorities in interest on housing loans for each of the years 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952.

Housing subsidies paid to Scottish local authorities from 1919 to 31st March, 1953, amount to approximately £84 million. The details are given in Appendix No. 23 of the Annual Report of the Department of Health for Scotland for 1953 (Command 9107). The interest paid by local authorities on housing loans is estimated at £5·8 million. £6·6 million, £7·5 million and £9·4 million, respectively, for the local authority financial years 1949–50, 1950–51. 1951–52 and 1952–53.