asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will raise the housing improvement grant to 75 per cent. for a period of two years, with a view to improving the housing stock and reducing unemployment.

No. 75 per cent. grants—up to 90 per cent. in cases of financial hardship—can already be made available where local authorities declare housing action areas for the improvement of concentrations of houses below the tolerable standard. The improvement of public sector houses continues at a high rate, and additional funds amounting to £1·9 million were made available to selected public authorities for house improvement work under the measures announced by the Government last October to provide additional employment in areas of high unemployment.