That system has been operating, of course, since 1947, but despite that, up to September of this year, private enterprise has been able to build a ratio of one in five.

In conversions, carried out largely by private enterprise, 1,076 homes have been provided. This makes a grand total of 9,000 families rehoused in Edinburgh since 1945. Let me relate that figure to the total number of houses built in Scotland during the period under review. The total number of families accommodated is slightly over 100,000. With Edinburgh's population of rather less than one-tenth of the total population of Scotland, slightly under one-tenth of the total accommodation which has been provided, has been provided for families in Edinburgh. Edinburgh, therefore, has not been lacking in civic responsibility and has had, on the whole, not an unfair share of the total building throughout Scotland on a population basis.

I want to refer to the allocations for 1950. Edinburgh Corporation have been allocated 1,200 houses for general needs, all of which are to be brought under construction before this time next year. Of these, 541 have been authorised to be started this year. We took that step because we saw that Edinburgh was beginning to run down on its number of houses under construction. Despite the fact that these houses were part of the 1950 programme, we arranged that Edinburgh could start their building in the current quarter. In addition, we have offered the city of Edinburgh 150 houses for the special miners' programme. I understand that the corporation are now considering this proposal. The arrangement is that 50 per cent. of these 150 houses would be for miners who are citizens of Edinburgh and the remaining half for miners in the Lothian coalfields wishing to reside in the city.

With regard to allocations of houses for Edinburgh compared with other cities in Scotland, Glasgow in the 1950 allocations, with a population of almost three times the population of Edinburgh, has had an allocation of 1,500 and, in addition, 350 from the Scottish Special Housing Association. Edinburgh's allocation is at present 1,200. Aberdeen, with a population of just over 180,000, has 300 houses allocated and Dundee, with a population of just over 180,000, has 380 houses allocated. It will be seen, therefore, that Edinburgh has received a relatively higher allocation than the other cities and I wish to explain the reason.

In fixing the allocation for 1950 regard was had to the fact that Edinburgh has pursued a policy of restraint in the matter of inviting tenders during the period since the end of the war and, in consequence, we considered it was fair that Edinburgh should have a relatively higher allocation for 1950 than the other cities. Regard was also had to the speed with which Edinburgh was able to build the houses and to the number she had under construction. Edinburgh has now about 1,000 houses under construction and has 102 houses approved but not yet begun.

We shall watch the position very carefully. It has to be watched very carefully because we do not desire to get into difficulties by overbalancing the housing programme generally in Scotland and giving the building industry more than they can carry out. We have just emerged from that and are not anxious to get back to it. We shall watch the position carefully and if the Edinburgh City Council, with its very active housing committee, can persuade the builders to build houses faster than they are doing and if the material and labour are there—which are also tremendously important—we shall look very favourably on any approach the Corporation may make during the course of 1950 to see whether we can add to the numbers we have already allocated.

This is not the last word. It may be that if there are in Scotland certain local authorities which have been given allocations which they cannot complete for some reason or other—perhaps siting difficulties or something of that nature—if Edinburgh is very eager and has the available labour and sites ready she may stand to benefit, as in the past, by getting houses with which other local authorities were not able to proceed.