§ 69. Mr. HALLASasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Black Country manufacturers are meeting with difficulty in executing their orders be cause of their inability to secure workmen owing to the serious lack of houses; that they are pressing local authorities to proceed with their housing schemes; and whether he can do anything to expedite the activities of those authorities?
§ Dr. ADDISONI am using every endeavour to expedite the building of houses in the district referred to, and I may say that the local authorities in Staffordshire and Warwickshire are showing a good deal of activity. Of the 37 urban authorities in Staffordshire, 24 have already had tenders approved for 6,852 houses, and 21 of these authorities have commenced building, the number of houses on which work had been begun on the 1st April being 673; 36 houses had been completed on that date. In Warwickshire all the 10 urban authorities had obtained tenders which had been approved and 9 authorities had commenced building. Tenders had been approved for 6,237 1895 houses, work had been begun on 993 and 195 had been completed.
I trust that the manufacturers who are pressing for increased accommodation will assist by subscribing liberally to the local bonds to be issued by these local authorities.