44. Colonel NEWMANasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with a view to restoring credit to the building industry, and allowing the citizen in need of a house the opportunity of having a house built which shall he his freehold property, he will establish a national housing bank empowered to make advances to builders or potential owners of houses approved by the local authority at the same rate of interest as is paid on the war loan, with an added percentage which will repay the advance in 25 years?
§ Mr. BALDWINNo, Sir. I cannot undertake to embark on banking operations of the nature suggested. I have no reason to suppose that the existing facilities are insufficient.