72. Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Minister of Health if lie is aware that considerable profiteering is taking place in the resale of subsidy houses; and will he make it a condition of the grant of any subsidy that no house shall be sold within five years of receipt of subsidy at a higher price than that on which the subsidy was granted?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am not aware that considerable profiteering is taking place in the re-sale of subsidy houses. It is open to any local authority, with my approval, to make a condition on the lines suggested by the hon. Member, 1508 and I have, in fact, already approved similar conditions being included in schemes of local authorities.
Mr. THOMSONWill the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the various local authorities or circularise them on this point so that they may protect the public against the profiteering which is taking place in certain cases?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI do not think it is necessary to issue a circular but I would not hesitate to give advice to any particular local authority if I found it necessary or to impose conditions of this kind.