§ 58. Sir PHILIP PILDITCHasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give the estimated annual cost to the Imperial Exchequer of the housing subsidy agreed to be made by the State under the Housing Act of this year for each of the seven years contemplated under the Act and subsequently; whether he can similarly inform the House as to what the annual cost of the portion of the loss to be borne by the local authorities throughout the country is estimated at; if he is in a position to inform the House what amount of capital it is estimated that the local authorities will require to raise in order to carry out the provisions of the Act; and has he been made aware that many local authorities, large and small, are finding great difficulty in raising the money on the market?
§ Mr. BALDWINI would refer the hon. Member to the White Papers presented to the House in connection with the Housing Acts and to the estimate of £10,000,000 recently given as the probable cost of the housing subsidies in a normal year. Sufficient progress has not yet been made by local authorities to enable an accurate estimate to be made of the amount of the 237 subsidy or the charge on rates in each of the next seven years. I am aware that some local authorities find difficulty in raising money in the market, and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has recently appointed a Committee to consider what steps can be taken to assist them to do so.
Mr. J. JONESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that municipalities find it impossible to build houses at anything like an economic rent, and what steps are the Government prepared to take to assist them to do so?
§ Major LANE-FOXHave any of these authorities applied for or received a subsidy?
§ Mr. BALDWINI cannot answer that question without notice, but it should be addressed to the Minister of Health.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENCan the right hon. Gentleman say how many houses have been built or how many are in process of being built? [An HON. MEMBER: "Two!"]
§ Dr. ADDISONI have answered that question four or five times. The other question as to the camps I will go into.
§ Mr. BALDWINThe answer is simple. Until the houses are built and it is ascertained what the cost has been you cannot say what the economic rent will be or whether the conditions when the rent is fixed will enable it to be paid.
Mr. JONESIs the hon. Gentleman aware that on the plans now being prepared we cannot build houses at a rent that ordinary workmen can afford to pay? Can I have an answer to my question?
Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is rather hasty, and if his question is so important he should take the trouble to put it down on the Paper.
Mr. SPEAKERIt is very difficult to answer such questions, which are rather elaborate when they are put in this way, because they require consideration.
§ Mr. BILLINGMay I ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether, under these circum- 238 stances, you are prepared to rule that it shall not be in order for hon. Members to ask questions on behalf of other hon. Members who are not present? Many questions have been asked in this way today. The result is that a number of hon. Members who are present will find that their questions which are on the Paper will not be reached, and I wish to know if hon. Members do not take the trouble to attend and put their questions, should those questions be answered?
Mr. SPEAKERThat question does not really arise now, but I may state that the general rule is that hon. Members are not entitled to ask questions standing in the name of other hon. Members unless they have obtained their consent to ask them.
§ Sir P. PILDITCHIs it suggested that the sum mentioned is anything like an accurate one in view of the immense rise in the cost of building?
§ Mr. BALDWINOf course, it is only an estimate, but I see no reason at present to depart from it.
§ Mr. IRVINGAlthough this is a question which should have been put on the Paper, I think it is one which ought to have been in the mind of the Government, because it is apparent to every local authority that you cannot possibly build houses at economic rents, and I want to know what the Department has done in the way of trying to meet that difficulty which they know exists as well as we do?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe matter has already been explained at great length to the House. I have issued regulations on the subject, and I will send the hon. Member a copy.