asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the growing practice of prospective owner-occupiers with limited means paying by instalments direct to the builder the price of a house being built for them and that, if in the course of erection of the house the builder goes into liquidation, the purchaser, not being a preferential creditor, often suffers the loss of all his payments; and, in view of the recent increase in the number of such builders going into liquidation, what steps he will take to protect such house purchasers from financial loss.

I am not aware that this practice is growing, but I should be glad to consider any information my hon. Friend cares to give me.