§ 47. Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been directed to the speech made by the President of the Local Government Board in Standing Committee A, on Thursday, 1st May, in which he stated that the proposed Grant-in-Aid of housing was wrong in principle in the view of the Government, and that it would deter private enterprise and discourage local authorities; whether the President of the Local Government Board was speaking for himself only or for the Government; and, 2033 if the latter, whether the Government has definitely decided against State Grants-in-Aid of housing?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI understand that the remarks of my right hon. Friend were directed to criticising the financial proposals of the Bill then under consideration. The Government has come to no such general decision as is suggested in the last paragraph of the question.
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman's attention has been directed to a statement of the President of the Local Government Board that he objected to the Grant-in-Aid in principle? The promoters of the Bill have frequently stated publicly that they are quite prepared to consider its method of application. That being so, are we to understand that the Government object to the principle of State-aid for housing?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have answered that question already. My right hon. Friend was quite right in saying that the application of the principle in the particular case would have been wasteful and unjust. The Government certainly have never said, and do not say now, that they exclude the question of Grants-in-Aid from consideration.
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENDo the Government intend to bring in a Bill making any such proposal this Session?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNot this Session.