§ 34. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Minister of Health whether grants at the rate of £260 per house, the bonus payable by the Ministry for the erection of brick or concrete houses, have been paid or authorised for the erection of wooden houses built of green unseasoned elm or other unseasoned wood; and under what circumstances?
§ Sir A. MONDThe grant of full subsidy in respect of houses constructed of hard woods was agreed to on the advice of a Committee appointed by my predecessor to advise the Department in regard to new methods of construction. The houses must comply with the specifications laid down by the Department for timber construction. The question of seasoning does not affect the quality of the timber used, but only its shrinkage, and provision is made in the construction to meet this. I am proposing to go into this question afresh.
§ Sir W. DAVISONCan the right hon. Gentleman explain why, apparently, a larger grant is made for the erection of houses of unseasoned wood than the grant authorised in respect of the erection of houses of seasoned wood? Is it not probable that unseasoned wood houses will be less serviceable?
§ Sir A. MONDI am going into the whole question. So far, I have not had time to go into it, and I cannot answer the hon. Member's question.
§ Sir C. YATEIs the same grant given for the erection of four-room houses as for six-room houses?
§ Sir A. MONDNo, certainly not.