§ 39. Mr. MYERSasked the Minister of Health whether the scheme for developing 2,787 acres at Dagenham into a garden city for the accommodation of 120,000 people, which was commenced last September, was reduced to a scheme involving only 440 acres at Ilford in January; whether the London County Council had by that time undertaken charges with a view to the development of the whole estate, which will make it impossible to let the 800 houses at present under construction at an economic rent; and if he can explain the refusal of the Ministry to sanction the larger scheme?
§ Sir A. MONDThe London County Council have been advised that, for the present, development should be restricted to one section of the estate. On that section 2,876 houses are to be erected; and there is ample work to be done for yet a long time on the erection of these houses. The obvious course, for the present, is to concentrate on completing this large number of houses under construction. The houses cannot be let at an economic rent, but that is unfortunately the position in all housing schemes, because of the heavy cost of building as compared with the rents, obtainable.