§ 101. Mr. MILLARasked the Minister of Health the total number of houses allocated to England and Wales under the Housing, Town Planning, Etc., Act, 1919, and schemes approved thereunder; the total number of houses provided in England and Wales and the number still to be provided under the 1919 Act; and the total liability undertaken by the State in connection with the houses provided and yet to be provided, respectively?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe State-assisted housing schemes of local authorities and public utility societies in England and Wales were limited to 176,000 houses, of which 159,000 had been completed on the 1st April last, and 16,998 were either in course of construction or had not been commenced. It is estimated that the total Exchequer charge in respect of the 176,000 houses in England and Wales will amount aproximately to £8,750,000 per annum in the early years. It is hoped that a reduction will be secured on this charge in later years as loans are reborrowed at, lower rates of interest. The houses not yet completed are in the majority of cases included in larger contracts and it is not practicable to make a separate estimate of their cost.