Oral Answers to Questions — Scotland – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 21 November 1973.
Mr Jimmy Hamilton
, Bothwell
12:00,
21 November 1973
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the approvals for house building in the first two quarters of each year since 1965.
Mr George Younger
, Ayr
With permission, I will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Mr Jimmy Hamilton
, Bothwell
Will not the Under-Secretary reveal that the OFFICIAL REPORT will show that since 1965 there has been a reduction in the number of approvals both in the public sector and in the private sector? Will he concede that there has been a reduction in the public sector because of the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act and in the private sector because of the present very high interest rates the Government have? Will the hon. Gentleman also reveal to us that the Government's record in comparison with that of the previous Government is absolutely deplorable and a scandal to the country?
Mr George Younger
, Ayr
I take absolutely the opposite view about the present Government's housing policies. The hon. Gentleman will know from these figures, all of which are available already, that the decline in approvals started after 1967 and continued in 1968 and in 1969. I have no doubt that the hon. Gentleman's right hon. Friend the Member for Kilmarnock (Mr. Ross) will tell him the reason for that. The hon. Gentleman might be equally delighted to hear that the record year for approvals was 1972, under this Government. I claim with confidence that the total housing policy of this Government has made a bigger contribution to better-quality housing for the people of Scotland than any previous efforts.
Mr Jock Bruce-Gardyne
, South Angus
Does not my hon. Friend agree that the primary preoccupation of electors in Scotland is inflation and that to add further to the pressure on the construction industry in Scotland at this time would only make the problem more acute?
Mr George Younger
, Ayr
There is no doubt something in what my hon. Friend says. That is why the recent measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister for easing the burden on the construction industry were so very important. We have put such a top priority on housing that it is exempted from, and therefore not affected by, all these measures.
Mr Robert Hughes
, Aberdeen North
Will not the Government be very lucky if they build 20,000 houses in Scotland this year, and therefore there is no danger of the kind of eventuality mentioned by the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne)? Is the Under-Secretary aware that, despite all his exhortations and the pride he takes in what he does for housing, the figure of 20,000 represents a 40 per cent. drop in the housing available for the people of Scotland? What possible hope is there for the homeless if the Government carry on like this?
Mr George Younger
, Ayr
It does not represent a drop in the housing available for the people of Scotland. The hon. Gentleman must look at our housing policy as a whole. He cannot ignore the fact that we had no fewer than 64,000 houses under improvement this year under our house improvement policy. There are all-time record completions of private houses going on all over Scotland. I should have thought that the hon. Gentleman would be glad to know also that houses under construction total almost 45,000.
Mr Jimmy Hamilton
, Bothwell
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Because of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.
Following are the figures:
| PUBLIC SECTOR HOUSES* | |
| Approvals in the first two quarters of each year | |
| 1965 | 16,961 |
| 1966 | 13,315 |
| 1967 | 18,519 |
| 1968 | 14,461 |
| 1969 | 13,030 |
| 1970 | 10,239 |
| 1971 | 8,814 |
| 1972 | 20,196 |
| 1973 | 4,475 |
| The uneven figures for 1972 and 1973, which have a balancing effect on each other, resulted from the favourable residual subsidy arrangements under the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972. | |
| *Local authorities, new towns and Scottish Special Housing Association. | |
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
The Speaker is an MP who has been elected to act as Chairman during debates in the House of Commons. He or she is responsible for ensuring that the rules laid down by the House for the carrying out of its business are observed. It is the Speaker who calls MPs to speak, and maintains order in the House. He or she acts as the House's representative in its relations with outside bodies and the other elements of Parliament such as the Lords and the Monarch. The Speaker is also responsible for protecting the interests of minorities in the House. He or she must ensure that the holders of an opinion, however unpopular, are allowed to put across their view without undue obstruction. It is also the Speaker who reprimands, on behalf of the House, an MP brought to the Bar of the House. In the case of disobedience the Speaker can 'name' an MP which results in their suspension from the House for a period. The Speaker must be impartial in all matters. He or she is elected by MPs in the House of Commons but then ceases to be involved in party politics. All sides in the House rely on the Speaker's disinterest. Even after retirement a former Speaker will not take part in political issues. Taking on the office means losing close contact with old colleagues and keeping apart from all groups and interests, even avoiding using the House of Commons dining rooms or bars. The Speaker continues as a Member of Parliament dealing with constituent's letters and problems. By tradition other candidates from the major parties do not contest the Speaker's seat at a General Election. The Speakership dates back to 1377 when Sir Thomas Hungerford was appointed to the role. The title Speaker comes from the fact that the Speaker was the official spokesman of the House of Commons to the Monarch. In the early years of the office, several Speakers suffered violent deaths when they presented unwelcome news to the King. Further information can be obtained from factsheet M2 on the UK Parliament website.
