§ 26. Mr. ANEURIN WILLIAMSasked how much of the sum of £4,000,000 made available on 10th August for the housing of the working classes by the Housing (No. 2) Act, 1914, has been lent by his Department for such purposes; at what rate of interest and on what conditions it has been decided to lend out of the above sum for such purposes; and what total sum has been applied for but not yet lent?
§ Sir HARRY VERNEYNo loans have yet been made by the Board under the Housing (No. 2) Act. The conditions under which money will be advanced were circulated this morning with the Votes in an answer given to the hon. Member for Whitehaven. The Board have received applications proposing a total expenditure of £69,765.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSCan the hon. Gentleman tell us when there is likely to be any building under this Act, now nearly four months old?
§ Sir HARRY VERNEYI am glad to say that unemployment in the building trade is so low at present that there are no houses being built. As soon as unemployment becomes at all grievous the Board are quite ready with a number of schemes and building will begin at once.