§ 89. Mr. ROBERT MORRISONasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that. Mr. W. A. Wilson, of 83, Lansdowne Road, Tottenham, at the invitation of the Tottenham Urban District Council, attended a conference of local builders at Tottenham Town Hall in May, 1923, at which the chairman of the council gave an assurance to those present that if they proceeded to erect houses they would rank for subsidy purposes; that Mr. Wilson subsequently built 10 flats in Lansdowne Road for letting purposes, and that he has now been refused the subsidy on the ground that he commenced to build six weeks too soon, and before the local authority had submitted their scheme; and, in view of the fact that this small builder, after building houses to let in good faith, has been penalised to the extent of £750, will he give special consideration to the exceptional circumstances and hardship arising from this case?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThis application has been very fully considered. I understand that the statement in the first part of the question is not accepted by the council as representing the facts, and, in the circumstances, I am afraid that I am not in a position to vary the decision which has been given.
§ Mr. MORRISONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this small builder is faced with ruin on account of a mere technicality, and will he look into this case personally?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have looked into this case personally, and I am sorry I cannot vary the decision which has been come to. I am afraid that, in the circumstances, which I have investigated, it would be impossible for me to take any other decision than that which has hem taken.
§ Mr. MORRISONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that of all the builders who attended this meeting this was the only builder who proceeded to build houses to let, and that he has been penalised to the extent of £750?