§ 61. Major PRESCOTTasked the Minister of Health whether he will give the average cost of the B 4 type of house on the P. C. form of contract within the metropolitan police area; whether he is aware that some of these houses of the artisan class have cost over £1,700 each; and if he will state what action is being taken to bring to an end a form of contract which is so prejudicial to the public interest?
§ Sir A. MONDNone of the housing contracts on the cost and fixed profit basis which have been let by local authorities within the metropolitan police area have yet been completed, and no definite information is consequently available as to the cost of those proportionately few 399 houses of the parlour and four-bedroom type which have been included in such contracts. There is no reason to believe that the cost of such houses will be so high as £1,700 each, but I am having the costs carefully scrutinised. I do not propose that this form of contract should be allowed in the future.
§ Major PRESCOTTHas the right hon. Gentleman no official information with regard to the cost of these houses, which are stated to have cost £1,776 each?
§ Sir A. MONDNo, I have no official information.
Sir F. HALLWill there be any great difficulty in ascertaining through this Department what these houses have actually cost? Is there any truth in the assumption that they have cost over £1,700 each?
§ Sir A. MONDI am now having the costs scrutinised, and it is not possible for me to say at the moment what the costs are.
§ Major PRESCOTTCan the right hon. Gentleman say how it is that the costs of these houses are available for the general body of citizens, but are not available to his Ministry?
§ Sir A. MONDThe general body of citizens may be satisfied with figures with which my Department would not be satisfied.
§ Lieut.-Colonel NALLDoes the Ministry know the cost of any of the houses that are building?
§ Sir A. MONDCertainly.