§ 85. Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENasked the President of the Local Government Board if it is still the intention of the Government to meet the deficiency of cottages in rural areas by undertaking the building of them by a Government Department on a large scale; if so, when they propose to start, and in what localities; and how they propose to find the money for the scheme?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELLegislation will be necessary to enable the building of cottages in rural areas to be undertaken by the State. I regret that I am not at present in a position to say when such legislation will be introduced.
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the President of the Board of Agriculture stated seven or eight months ago that an immediate start was going to be made by building 10,000 cottages by a central Department; and are we to understand that the matter is now indefinitely postponed?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELNo, Six, the hon. Member must not assume that. I cannot accept the accuracy of his quotation.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that until something definite is known as to the legislative proposals of the Government all private enterprise is at a standstill, and the shortage of cottages is getting a little more serious-than it was before?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELNo, Sir, I am not aware of that. Rural district councils are now applying in considerable numbers for loans to build cottages.
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENIn view of the very unsatisfactory nature of the right hon. Gentleman's answer, I beg to give notice that I will raise this question on the Adjournment to-night.