§ 73 and 74. Mr. MASTERMANasked the Minister of Health (1) whether he is prepared to submit an additional Resolution in Committee which will enable the House, if it so desires, to give power to the local authorities to build cottages of larger floor space than that now restricted by the Housing Resolution during the next 15 years, if any of them so desire;
(2) whether he is prepared to submit an additional Resolution in Committee which will enable the House, if it so desires, to provide the owner-occupier with similar assistance to that now proposed to be offered to the local authorities for houses limited for letting purposes?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYI have carefully considered these suggestions, and, in view of all the circumstances, can see no reason that would justify me in submitting another Money Resolution.
§ Mr. MASTERMANAre we to understand from that answer that the Government have deliberately decided that this vital question shall not even be discussed in the House of Commons in Committee on the Housing Bill?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYI may remind the right hon. Gentleman that I am acting on the decision of the House. I have considered the matter carefully, and I was particularly influenced by the fact that the local authorities are not, in the great majority of cases, utilising their full powers.
§ Mr. MASTERMANBut is it not in the power of the Government and the right hon. Gentleman so to amend the Resolution as to allow the House of Commons, which, after all, counts for something, to discuss this question?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYYes, but what the right hon. Gentleman is asking me to do is that, the House of Commons having come to a decision on a Money Resolution, I shall depart from that Resolution and introduce a fresh Resolution.
§ Mr. PRINGLECould the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is not the case 1320 that the House could not modify this Resolution at all, and that the only course was to reject it?
§ Sir K. WOODWas it not a fact that the Resolution was drawn in such a way that it could not be amended, notwithstanding the fact that, when my right hon. Friend brought in his Resolution last year, it was drafted in such a way that it could be amended, and has not the right hon. Gentleman himself on many occasions said that this increase in the size of houses ought to be accomplished?
§ Mr. MASTERMANHave not the Government themselves, in response to the general wishes of the House of Commons, frequently produced new Money Resolutions in connection with these Bills, and cannot the right hon. Gentleman see his way to allow the House to discuss this most important question?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYI would say, in reply to the hon. Member for West Woolwich (Sir K. Wood), that since I criticised the size of these houses, the maximum size has been increased by 100 feet. I do not believe I could, with all due respect, enter into the supplementary question raised by the right hon. Member for Rusholme (Mr. Masterman).
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is now satisfied that suggestions from below the Gangway will not be seriously pressed?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYI should say that the right hon. Gentleman who puts the question is more likely to ascertain in advance the probable decision of the House on his proposals than I am.