asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which local authorities have refused to accept the British Iron and Steel Federation house.

The town councils of Falkirk, Hamilton, Milngavie and Rutherglen and the county councils of Ayr and Dunbarton were unable to accept the provisional allocation of British Iron and Steel Federation houses made to them. The 450 houses involved have since been allocated to other local authorities.

Can my hon. Friend say what the reasons were for rejecting these house, in view of the great shortage in this district, and whether steps have been taken by these local authorities to compensate people for the loss which has been suffered?

The reasons vary. Some did not like the house because their architects objected. In one or two cases they have taken steps to get other permanent prefabricated houses. Personally, I would have thought that when the housing shortage in Scotland was so acute no local authority would have refused an offer of a Government house.