We must recognise that, 18 months ago, a certain number of men were engaged in the erection of temporary houses, and that that programme has come to an end. The first figure I gave included the number of men engaged on temporary houses, but what I am now concerned about is the number of men engaged in the erection of permanent houses. It has fallen from 1,087 to 769 in the past 18 months. That fall is undoubtedly very serious and I understand that it has already created difficulties and that those concerned with the building of houses in Edinburgh cannot get more bricklayers, plasterers and joiners. There was a plentiful supply of bricklayers a short time ago, but that is not the position today.

When the financial limit for work to be done without licence was raised to £1,000, I raised the question whether or not that alteration would have an effect upon the labour available for the building of houses. It now appears, so far as I am able to judge, that the fear I expressed at that time has been realised. It is understandable. Jobbing work is more profitable for the employer, and for the worker also, in that industry. I think that what has happened in Edinburgh is that the very large section of the building trade which is comprised of small building firms is now not available for the building of houses. Previously this available labour had been organised in the form of a building group and did build some 400 houses. Today that labour is not available. I want to ask my right hon. Friend whether he does not think that the time has now arrived when the limit of £1,000 should be reviewed. If it is operating in the manner which I suggest, should it not be revised?

I should like to put many more points about Edinburgh housing but I shall raise a point of a more general character before I conclude. During the past two or three months I have been going around houses in my Constituency, and I have become increasingly impressed with the ignorance of people concerning their rights. I have come across people living in properties for which they were paying rent and for which, in my opinion, under the common law of Scotland, they should not have been paying rent at all. In fact, in a certain case, I have had the rent returned. I have also come across people who knew nothing about their rights as tenants. That was particularly the case with people living in furnished or unfurnished rooms. In the past few years we have passed most complicated legislation in order to protect tenants and to clarify the position of landlords, but we have not done sufficient to ensure that people know their rights.

We had the experience lately in the Ministry of Pensions of men who were entitled to grants, weekly payments, from the Government, and did not know of their entitlement until the Minister sent them a letter asking whether they were sure they were getting all they were entitled to. Since the Minister sent out that letter, tens of thousands of people have claimed benefits and are now receiving them. In the case of tenants' rights, or, for that matter, landlords' rights, where the legislation is far more complicated, my right hon. Friend ought to do something to enable people to appreciate exactly their position. Many of them are frightened because they know they have nowhere else to go. The duty of Parliament, it seems to me, is not simply to pass legislation to protect individuals but also to see that people are fully informed to the greatest possible extent by the Government so that they can reap the benefit of that legislation. I have raised this matter before and I know that the Scottish Department publishes a small book giving some of this information. I expect it is now out of date. I have never found anybody who possessed a copy of it.

I hope that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will give this matter serious consideration. It was found possible during the war to inform soldiers and their wives of their position in regard to certain matters. Surely we can find better methods of doing the same in this very important matter, because it will become increasingly important. If the announcement to be made on Monday has the effect of delaying housing to any extent—I sincerely hope it will not it would probably be wrong if it did—this question will be increasingly important. If my hon. Friend can do anything about the matters I have raised tonight he will be doing something which-will at least lighten the burden of thousands of people in the City of Edinburgh.