§ 42. Mr. SMITHERSasked the Minister a Health whether, in view of the short age of houses and the consequent suffering and inconvenience caused thereby, he will consider the advisability of obtaining powers to make a Regulation that any person or persons desirous of erecting a building, other than one intended to be used wholly as a dwelling-house, must apply to the Ministry of Health for a permit to build, and that such permit shall only be granted if such a building is deemed to be essential to the public interest, and that such Regulation shall remain in force until such time as the supply of houses shall have caught up any reasonable demand?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have considered the suggestion of the hon. Member, but I do not propose to introduce legislation on the lines indicated by him. I may perhaps add that the National House Building Committee appointed by my predecessor advised against any restriction of private and commercial building.