Duchess of ATHOLL:

The point raised by my hon. and learned Friend is a material one because this expression is vague and requires definition, but I wish to draw attention to the main point of the Amendment, namely, the increased compensation proposed to one class of owners. I am pleased, as we are all pleased, that the concession which was given to the English owner-occupiers at a late stage in the proceedings on the English housing measure has now been extended to Scottish owner-occupiers, a class which stands to suffer considerably through the operation of the Bill. Two and two-fifths, however, of the rateable valuation is not at all high compensation. It represents a very few years purchase for anything of any capital value, and I regret that the concession, inconsiderable though it is, has not been extended to all owners. The Under-Secretary said that many owner-occupiers were persons of small means. That is true, but there are many persons of small means who do not come within the category of owner-occupiers and yet are owners of houses. There are many women whose fathers or husbands had invested their savings in house property, perhaps in one or two houses, and who are left with that property as their means of livelihood. The increased cost of upkeep since the War, combined with the fact that rents have not risen in proportion, means that much of this property has been yielding very little income. In many cases such properties represent the only source of income of the owner. There are many owners in Glasgow and elsewhere who stand to lose most of their small means if this Bill goes through because much of their property is not in good condition, or even if it is in good condition—