was made of Provisional Orders promoted by Scottish Local Authorities under the provisions of the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act, 1899, and deposited in accordance with No. 33 (7) of the General Orders framed under that Act. In accordance with No. 95 of these General Orders, reports were submitted to the Secretary for Scotland on certain provisions in the under-mentioned Provisional Orders bearing upon matters which come within the jurisdiction of the Department :Edinburgh Corporation (General Powers) Order; Edinburgh Corporation (Streets, Buildings and Sewers) Consolidation and Amendment Order; Perth Corporation Water Order. The principal points referred to in the reports were given effect to in the Orders as confirmed.

15. Parliamentary and Government Returns, &c.-We furnished an estimate of the yield of the assessment imposed for 1925-26 by all local authorities in Scotland for inclusion in the Financial Statement issued in connection with the Budget; and we also furnished for inclusion in the annual Parliamentary paper, shewing the expenditure, &c. on Public Social Services, particulars regarding the services administered by us.

At the request of the Secretary for Scotland, we undertook to obtain the necessary particulars to enable him to certify the amount of the additional agricultural rates grant payable to parish councils under the Agricultural Rates Act, 1923; and we had dealt with about half of the claims made by parish councils for 1926-27 by the close of the year.

We have the honour to be,

SIR,

Your most obedient humble servants,

EWAN F. MACPHERSON (Chairman).

JAMES LEISHMAN.

W. LESLIE MACKENZIE.

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APPENDICES.

APPENDIX I.

SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES UNDER :—

(4.) Housing (Inspection of District) Regulations, 1910.

(B.) Sections 3 (1) (2), 20 (1), and 111 of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1925; and Section 40 (1) of the Housing, Town Planning, &c. (Scotland) Act, 1919.

APPENDIX II.

STEEL HOUSES.-GOVERNMENT SCHEME.

STATEMENT showing the Allocation of the 2000 Houses
according to Sites.

APPENDIX III.

SLUM CLEARANCE: DESCRIPTION OF SCHEMES CONFIRMED.

1. Burgh of Anstruther-Easter. This scheme dealt with two areas, extending in all to 0-566 of an acre. The premises in the scheme included 16 houses, 1 shop, 1 office, and a number of stores, sheds, stables, &c. Of the 16 houses 6 were unoccupied when the scheme was submitted, leaving 10 houses occupied by tenants for whom the local authority proposed to provide rehousing accommodation. Since then, however, one or two of the occupied houses have also become vacant. The tenants have found accommodation for themselves, and so have relieved the local authority of the necessity of providing accommodation for them.

The scheme was confirmed subject to certain modifications, and to the deletion of a number of the properties from the list of those premises which were specified as being in an insanitary condition or dangerous or prejudicial to health. These properties, however, remain in the scheme for the purpose of making it efficient. The local authority were allowed a period of three years in which to carry out the scheme.

For the purpose of providing accommodation for the tenants displaced by the scheme, the local authority propose to provide one or two houses by the reconstruction of an existing property in one of the areas, and to erect elsewhere a number of new houses sufficient to accommodate the remainder of the tenants. The number of these new houses will depend on the number of tenants remaining in the houses acquired under the scheme, when these come to be demolished. With the exception of the property already referred to which it is proposed to reconstruct, all the other properties were to be demolished. Certain much-needed street-widenings were to be carried out, and the remainder of the ground not required for the above purposes was to be resold or disposed of for purposes other than dwelling accommodation for the working classes.

The scheme was estimated to cost £7,540 and to involve an annual loss of £292.

2. Dumfries Burgh.-This scheme was the third scheme of the kind promoted by this local authority, the first having been confirmed in 1914 and the second in 1924. The present scheme was in respect of three areas, extending in all to 1.55 acres, and embracing 151 occupied houses, besides a number of shops, stables, &c., and two lodging-houses. The largest of the three areas included in the scheme adjoined the areas that had been cleared under the two previous schemes, and was designed to complete a very desirable clearance and improvement.

Subject to the exclusion of certain properties, the scheme was confirmed, and the local authority allowed a period of three years in which to carry it out.

In the scheme as modified the number of occupied houses to be dealt with was 130, comprising 30 of one apartment, 55 of two apartments, 33 of three apartments and 12 of four or more apartments. In place of these, the local authority proposed to erect a corresponding number of new houses comprising 76 of two apartments and 54 of three apartments. A small number of the houses was to be erected on one of the cleared areas, the remainder being erected on three new sites elsewhere in the burgh. The remainder of the cleared areas not required for the erection of new houses was to be utilised for (1) street widenings; (2) open spaces; and (3) purposes other than dwelling accommodation for the working classes.

The scheme as modified was estimated to cost about £75,000 and to entail an annual loss of £3,080.

3. Falkirk Burgh.-This scheme dealt with five areas, extending in all to 2-723 acres. In these areas there were included 132 houses (10 of which were unoccupied), besides a number of shops, stores, stables, &c. The 122 occupied houses comprised 43 houses of one room, 59 of two rooms, 9 of three rooms, and 11 of four or more rooms. In order to rehouse the tenants who would be displaced by the scheme, the local authority proposed to erect 122 new houses102 on new sites and 20 on two of the cleared areas. These houses were to comprise 32 of two apartments, 80 of three apartments, and 10 of four apart

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