§ 40. Mr. EDEasked the Minister of Health the total number of houses for the working classes that were estimated at the end of the War to be required by the local housing authorities in the administrative County of Surrey to make good the then existing shortage; how many houses have since been built by the housing authorities; and how many by other persons for working-class occupation?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINAccording to a return made in 1919 by local authorities in the administrative County of Surrey, the total number of houses required by them for the working classes was 9,028; 3,538 houses have since been built by local authorities in the administrative county. Information as to the total number of houses built by private enterprise is not available, but financial assistance has been given under the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1919, to the provision, in the administrative county, of 214 houses by public utility societies, and under Section 1 of the Housing (Additional Powers) Act, 1919, to the provision of 2,249 houses. A return obtained in March last, which did not include rural districts outside the Metropolitan Police District, showed that in the County of Surrey 732 new houses of less than £35 annual value had been completed between 30th September and 31st March, and that 881 houses of five rooms or less were under construction at the latter date.